ELECTRIC blankets are an effective way how you can save on energy bills by keeping the heating low.
Here is how to use an electric blanket safely and keep warm this winter while keeping energy bills low.
1
Are electric blankets safe?
Electric blankets are relatively safe, however, if yours is at least 10 years old, then you might want to consider changing it.
Deborah Weatherspoon suggests that the older the blanket, the more wear and tear it has on it which might make it dangerous to use.
Another reason is that new technology is making it possible for manufacturers to create electric blankets with even more safety features to reduce the risk of fire or burns.
Some old blankets don’t even have internal temperature controls which turn them off before they get too hot.
To make sure that your electric blanket is safe to use, here are some precautions which you might want to consider:
- Make sure that it has a tag which shows testing and approval by an organised body
- Don’t buy a second-hand electric blanket
- Don’t use blankets that are very old and have excessive wear such as tears or a frayed electric cord
- Make sure the wires and cords fit tightly and properly
- Don’t use blankets with damaged or displaces wires
On the other hand, there are some cases in which experts recommend that you do not use an electric blanket.
If you’re pregnant or trying to get pregnant, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that you should not use electric blankets.
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If you suffer from diabetes, the doctor might also advise you to stop using your electric blanket.
This is because diabetes can cause a complication called neuropathy which is nerve damage.
When this happens, you might not be able to feel how hot the electric blanket actually is and might burn yourself.
How to use an electric blanket safely
When you purchase a new electric blanket, it’s important that you read the instructions first that come with it.
Different brands manufacture different types of electric blankets.
We also have some tips that you should follow to ensure safe use, such as:
- Make sure to turn the blanket off when you’re not using it and only use one at a time.
- Avoid switching it on by mistake by not attaching it to an outlet that also has a light switch.
- Avoid using a water bottle or a heating pad along with your blanket.
- Do not pile it with pillows and blankets and other objects.
- Do not fold up your electric blanket when it’s turned on
- Make sure not to use it on a waterbed or a hospital one.
- If possible, try to never fold your electric blanket.
- If you have to wash it, check the manual first to ensure you do it the right way.
- It’s essential that you are 100 per cent sure that your blanket is dry after washing it because it’s dangerous to turn on a wet blanket.
- Don’t tuck the edges of the electric blanket under the mattress.
- Don’t sit or lie on top of it either.
Taking these precautions can prevent the electric blanket from overheating and burning you.
It will also prevent any sort of electrocution.
Can I sleep with an electric blanket on?
It’s recommended that you do not sleep with an electric blanket on.
If it is turned on for a long amount of time, the blanket may overheat and cause you severe burns.
Electric blankets are designed to pre-warm your bed.
The blankets and pillows that you have on your bed, will help to capture the heat and keep you warm all night.
That way, you won’t end up getting easily cold throughout the night when you’re asleep.
