(UNDATED) – As the outside temperatures decrease, the chance of house Fires can increase.
Are your electric blankets safe? Heating equipment, including electric blankets, is the second leading cause of home fires in the United States.
Here are some valuable safety tips from State Farm Insurance to keep you warm and safe during winter.
Are Electric Blankets Safe?
More home fires occur during the winter months than during any other part of the year, according to the Electrical Safety Foundation International. Heating equipment, including electric blankets, is the second leading cause of home fires in the United States.
More than 65,000 home fires are attributed to heating equipment each year. These fire result in hundreds of deaths, thousands of injuries and millions of dollars in property damage.
Electric blanket safety tips:
Check the product label. Make sure your electric blanket is certified by a national testing laboratory, such as UL. You can also check the Consumer Product Safety Commission to make sure your electric blanket has not been recalled.
Think about an electric blanket with auto-shutoff. If your blanket doesn’t have a timer, turn it off before going to sleep.
Consider your bed. Never use an electric blanket on a waterbed or adjustable, pull-out sofa, recliner, or hospital-style bed. Also, don’t use a heated blanket and a heated mattress pad at the same time. Overheating might result.
Safety concerns with electric blankets:
- Don’t use an old blanket. The majority of electric blanket and heating pad fires are caused by blankets and pads older than 10 years.
- Don’t place anything on the blanket. This includes yourself unless the electric blanket is designed to be laid on. Sitting on the electric blanket may damage the electric coils.
- Don’t allow pets near your blanket. Cat or dog claws can cause rips and tears, which may expose the electric wiring of the blanket and create shock and fire hazards. If you can’t keep your pet away, consider purchasing a low-voltage blanket.
More information: Electrical Safety Foundation International, Inc. www.esfi.org
Additional tips: https://www.statefarm.com/simple-insights/safety/are-electric-blankets-safe
