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| Issued By Cumbria County Council |
|
| Issued By Cumbria County Council |
ELECTRIC BLANKET TESTING 16 TO 21 SEPTEMBER 2023 - RESULTS
Cumbria Trading Standards
are alarmed at the results of their Electric Blanket Testing Event held during
the week of 16 to 21 September 2002.
Only 197 of the 624
electric blankets submitted initially passed with no faults.
425 of the electric blankets tested failed to comply with current safety
requirements, and of these 388 were unfit to be used again.
In addition two blankets submitted were incapable of being tested.
The event was run in
partnership with care agencies across the County with an emphasis on reaching
elderly and disabled users (see attached chart).
Faulty blankets present a real risk of causing house fires. Home Office statistics indicate that there are between 800
and 1000 fires each year caused by electric blankets. In 1996, the last year for which detailed analysis is
available, these fires resulted in 19 fatalities and 91 non-fatal injuries.
20% of the injuries required admission to hospital, for an average of 4
days’ treatment. Older people and
those on low incomes are most likely to have an electric blanket, and people
over 60 years of age are most at risk of a blanket-related fire.
Cumbria County Councillor
Jack Richardson, Community Safety Spokesperson states:
“I
am very worried at the dangerous condition of many of the blankets submitted for
test. There are still a lot of
electric blankets in the County that are a serious safety risk.
People
with worn or damaged blankets need to replace them immediately.
All electric blankets should be checked regularly for faults and
maintained in line with manufacturers’ instructions.
I ask everyone with elderly friends or relatives to check that they do not have an electric blanket that could put their life at risk”.
Trading
Standards thanks all other agencies
who helped to make the event possible:
Branches of Age Concern across the County
Cumbria
Fire Service
and others who helped in the collection and delivery arrangements.
|
Location of Check |
No. of blankets tested |
No. of blankets passed with no faults |
No. of blankets failed |
No. of blankets repaired and made safe |
No. of blankets found to be unsafe & which should not be in use (not repairable) |
|
Barrow |
*115 |
32 |
*83 |
8 |
*75 |
|
Carlisle |
90 |
30 |
60 |
7 |
53 |
|
Cleator Moor |
108 |
41 |
67 |
6 |
61 |
|
Grange |
103 |
25 |
78 |
4 |
74 |
|
Penrith |
126 |
41 |
85 |
5 |
80 |
|
Workington |
80 |
28 |
52 |
7 |
45 |
|
Total |
*622 |
197 |
*425 |
37 |
*388 |
* plus
2 blankets that were incapable of being tested – total 624
For further information contact:
B Procter on 01539 773573 or P Thomas on 01539 773591