Almost 250 residents take advantage of free electric blanket safety tests

Posted 18/10/18

Almost 250 residents took advantage of this year’s electric blankets safety tests provided by Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards.

Each year the service runs a free electric blanket testing campaign for Warwickshire people aged 50+ in order to protect residents from old and dangerous electric blankets. 

Warwickshire County Councillor Andy Crump, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety said: 

“This year 28% of all the blankets we tested failed, a lower failure rate than last year and hopefully an indication that fewer people are using very old blankets and are replacing them more regularly.” 

“Old electric blankets are much more likely to develop faults that can lead to fires and very old ones rarely have the inbuilt safety protection that all modern electric blankets must have.” 

The electric blanket testing campaign has now finished but owners can check the safety of their own electric blankets by looking for the following warning signs:

•          the fabric is worn or frayed
•          there are scorch marks anywhere
•          the tie tapes are damaged or missing
•          the flex is worn or damaged
•          any connections are loose

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 10 years old, industry guidelines suggest you should replace it. An old BEAB safety mark (a round symbol) is an indication that the blanket is more than ten years old.

For more information visit: http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/electricblanket

Results 

Venue	Tested	Passed (inc. 4 repairs)	Failed
Stratford upon Avon	94	61	33
Leamington Spa	32	26	6
Rugby	32	26	6
Kenilworth	51	35	16
Nuneaton	37	30	7
Total	246	178	68
Percentages		72%	28%

 A collection service was operated for living in rural/isolated locations or who were housebound or disabled. 

Visitors to the test centres also received information and advice on scams and doorstep crime and were able to speak to a representative from Act on Energy, a charity that offers advice on keeping their homes warm and reducing their gas and electricity bills.

 Act on Energy, phone 0800 988 2881 or visit: www.actonenergy.org.uk 

ENDS 

Photograph: Warwickshire County Councillor Andy Crump, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety with electric blanket safety testing expert Clive MacDonald of GEMS (SW) Ltd.

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