Departments
Accident Prevention
Electric Blanket Roadshows
Background
Old or damaged blankets cause more than 5,000 accidental fires a year. Research has shown that electric blankets ten years or older, still in use in many homes, are responsible for 99% of the fires caused by electric blankets.
It is estimated that each year 20 people are killed and 100 injured in electric blanket fires. Local testing events are a valuable means of reducing such accidents.
Older people aged 65 years or more are at greatest risk, with six times the national average of fatal injuries and twice the national average of non-fatal injuries.
The main causes of electric blanket fires are:
·Age of blanket – older blankets do not have an overheating protection system, which cuts the power to the blanket should it start to overheat;
·Incorrect use of the blanket – e.g. the tie-tapes have not been used to secure the blanket to the mattress. This allows creases to form and opens the possibility for heating elements to become damaged or displaced. To check, hold the blanket up to the light. The wires should be evenly spaced and should not touch each other anywhere.
·Natural wear and tear e.g. worn fabric, flex, loose connections at plug or controls;
·Incorrect storage of the blanket. To store a blanket for the summer, roll it or fold it with as few creases as possible, and keep it in a dry place. Store separately from other bedding, if possible, or keep on top to avoid bedding pressing down on the blanket. Or store it by putting it on a spare bed – but make sure it stays dry and flat.
Note: If a blanket displays the old circular BEAB safety mark it will be more than 10 years old and will not comply with the latest safety standard, it is best to buy a new one.
Local Activity
Nine electric blanket roadshows were held in the Board area between 2nd February and 28th March 2006.
Results for each Trust were:
HSS Trust | No. Tested | No. Failed | Failure Rate |
ADHSST | 114 | 41 | 35.9% |
CBCHSST | 113 | 44 | 38.93% |
NMHSST | 69 | 35 | 50.72% |
Overall Total | 296 | 120 | 40.5% |
The events were targeted at the over 65s within the community although all age groups were welcome to use the service.
Participants whose blanket failed the safety test were given a voucher for £10.00 to redeem against the purchase of a new blanket. All attendees received a goody bag with relevant literature and an energy saving light bulb.
The project was run in partnership with the local Health Promotion Departments, the Home Accident Prevention Group (Dungannon), the Senior Citizens’ Consortium (Newry and Mourne), the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, Environmental Health with support from Northern Ireland Electricity and the Energy Savings Trust.
Is your electric blanket safe?
http://www.dti.gov.uk/ccp/topics1/safetymedia/electricblanketsafe.pdf(185kb)
Home Accident Prevention Strategy Target 6:To reduce the number of injuries from accidental fires for all ages by 10% to145 injuries in 2009. Safe Home For Me
Safehome4me.com is aimed at Pre-school and Key Stage 1 pupils, aged 3- 7 years. The resource has been developed by the Southern Area Health Promotion Department (SAHPD), on behalf of the Southern Area Accident Prevention Liaison Group (SAAPLG) and in consultation with the Southern Education and Library Board (SELB), to raise awareness of the factors that can cause accidents within the home. Safehome4me.com is designed to be used by children in pre-school settings, nursery schools and primary schools but can easily be used at home too. The scenarios and games work best if explained and discussed with an adult initially, but once children are familiar with the games, they can continue to use them alone or in small groups. The teachers’ resource to accompany the online resource, covers a range of safety topics relevant to the home, encouraging discussion and further activities as appropriate. Activities can be performed by children under the direction of their teachers or with help from the child’s parent or carer. |
