Many blankets fail test

Press, 4 May 1984, Page 5

Many blankets fail test

About 16.5 per cent of the electric blankets tested by the Christchurch Municipal Electricity Department in the last two months, have failed to pass the safety requirements. Of 1441 tested, 237 have failed. As such they were potentially dangerous and a bed fire could have occurred if the blankets had been used. A spokesman for the M.E.D. said that the main faults were caused by neglect. If blankets were not tied to the bed correctly, or if they were folded, the wires could cover one another and cause dangerous hot spots.

The best ways of storing a blanket to prevent damage were to roll it up; or hang it on a coat hanger in the wardrobe; or, as a last resort, it could be left tied, firmly to the bed. If the last method is used, the blanket should be checked periodically to make sure that there were no creases or wrinkles, he said. Each year the department gives free tests of electric blankets for M.E.D. consumers in the area. Anyone who wants their blankets checked should take them to the department’s appliance repair section.