A WARWICKSHIRE fire chief is urging residents to check their electric blankets in the absence of testing events this year.
Stratford Avenue ward councillor Cohl Warren-Howles approached fire station manager John Wilson for advice to enable residents to carry out their own checks – since pandemic restrictions mean testing appointments cannot take place.
Every year Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service along with support from Trading Standards aims to support local communities with regular testing of electric blankets. And this year, they are urging residents to check their own electric blankets before by looking for the following warning signs:
-The fabric is worn or frayed.
-There are scorch marks.
-The tie tapes are damaged or missing.
-The flex is worn or damaged.
-Any connections are loose.
If any of the above are identified blankets should be replaced immediately.
John added: “Many people do not remove their electric blankets from their beds, simply unplugging them until they are next needed. If you know anybody in this situation please take the time to remove the blanket and look for the warning signs above.
“We would also urge residents to check in on elderly relatives to ensure if they are using the electric blankets that they are checked thoroughly before use.
“Remember older blankets in regular use are much more likely to have one or more of the above faults. If your electric blanket is more than ten years old, industry guidelines suggest you should replace it.
“An old BEAB safety mark – a round symbol – is an indication the blanket is more than ten years old.”
Visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/electricblanket for more information.
