Life saving checks are being offered by Warwickshire Fire and Rescue (WFRS) and Trading Standards from the 18 November as part of a drive to make Warwickshire residents safer!As we approach winter,...
Life saving checks are being offered by Warwickshire Fire and Rescue (WFRS) and Trading Standards from the 18 November as part of a drive to make Warwickshire residents safer!
As we approach winter, many people will be getting out their electric blankets ready for use, many for the first time since last year. To raise awareness of potential issues inappropriate storage can cause and as part of Electrical Safety First’s Electrical Fire Safety Week, WFRS are offering free electric blanket testing to over 50s in Warwickshire from 18 to 22 November.
Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Community Fire Prevention and Arson Manager, Moreno Francioso said:
“In 2018, 28% of all of the blankets that Trading Standards tested failed. This decreased from 2017, but we want this to be lower again in 2019 and hope to do so by raising the awareness of the potential dangers of electric blankets and encouraging residents to replace them more regularly.
“In particularly, old electric blankets are much more likely to develop faults that can lead to fires and very old ones very rarely have the inbuilt safety protection that all modern electric blankets must have.”
If you have an electric blanket or you have an elderly or vulnerable resident with a blanket, please encourage them to come along and get their blanket tested. Testing will be available at the fire stations below on the following dates:
- Monday 18th November 2019 - Stratford Fire Station
- Tuesday 19th November 2019 - Alcester Fire Station
- Wednesday 20th November 2019 - Leamington Spa Fire Station
- Thursday 21st November 2019 - Rugby Fire Station
- Friday 22nd November 2019 - Nuneaton Fire Station
Testing will take place from 9.30am until 4.30pm and appointments can be booked by calling 024 76314376 or emailing cfs@warwickshire.gov.uk.
Appointments will be allocated on a first come first served basis and are limited so don’t miss out and book now!
If you are unable to take advantage of the testing programme you can check the safety of an electric blanket by looking for the following warning signs:
- Fraying fabric
- Scorch marks
- Exposed elements
- Creasing or folding
- Soiling
- Damp patches
- Tie tapes damaged or missing
- Worn flex
- Loose connections
As well as checking the safety of your electric blanket, you should always make sure that it is used in the correct way by adhering to the following steps:
- Always follow the instructions
- Never use an electric under blanket as an electric over blanket and vice versa
- Tie electric under blankets to the bed or mattress – this stops them slipping and creasing, which could damage them
- Only leave a blanket switched on all night if it has thermostatic controls for safe all-night use. Otherwise switch it off and disconnect it before you get into bed
- Don’t get blankets wet, and if your blanket does get wet, don’t use it. Never switch it on to dry it
For additional advice visit our website: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/electricblanket