Blanket test extended to rid county of “timebombs”
By Martin Chapman on Wednesday, 19th September 2001.
Residents through-out Suffolk will be able to get their electric blankets tested for free after the Suffolk Trading Standards this week revealed startling statistics.
Sixty-three per cent of electric tested last year by the Fire Service and Trading Standards failed safety requirements. This year the two departments are again working together in a bid to rid the county of thousands of potentially lethal electric blankets.
Any Suffolk resident with a blanket over three years old can drop it off at any of the ten participating Fire Stations for testing in closed conditions on a first come first served basis. It is important though that any resident dropping off a blanket must be able to collect it during the opening times listed below.
The blankets will be available for collection within two weeks. Any blanket which fails the tests will be offered a £5 voucher towards the cost of a replacement and the old blanket will be marked as unsafe.
Peter Monk, of Suffolk County Council questioned “how many of us are sleeping with a timebomb in our beds? If you have an electric blanket over three years old I urge you to take it to one of the ten fire stations across the county and get it tested. The service is free and it will put your mind at rest before you start to use your blanket for the winter"
Research has shown that forty-one per cent of people aged over 70 have an electric blanket, and if something goes wrong they are the most vulnerable if something goes on.
Mr Monk said: “last year a staggering 60% of the blankets tested were unsafe. Lets hope that this year we can rid Suffolk once and for all of thee unsafe electric blankets.”
Blankets to be tested must be over three years old, in a dry condition complete with any switch or controller. It is also essential that the blanket is clearly labelled with the owner’s name, address and contact phone number.
Haverhill Fire Station will be open on October 4 between 2 and 3pm and on October 5 between 10 am and 1 pm. The blankets can be collected between 9 am and 12 noon on October 18.
The other participating stations are: Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds, Lowestoft, Newmarket, Mildenhall, Sudbury, Eye, Saxmundham and Felixstowe. Details about their opening hours are available by contacting Suffolk Trading Standards on 01473 584368.
The department has also produced a leaflet called “Is Your Electric Blanket Safe?” and is available on 01473 584358.
Sixty-three per cent of electric tested last year by the Fire Service and Trading Standards failed safety requirements. This year the two departments are again working together in a bid to rid the county of thousands of potentially lethal electric blankets.
Any Suffolk resident with a blanket over three years old can drop it off at any of the ten participating Fire Stations for testing in closed conditions on a first come first served basis. It is important though that any resident dropping off a blanket must be able to collect it during the opening times listed below.
The blankets will be available for collection within two weeks. Any blanket which fails the tests will be offered a £5 voucher towards the cost of a replacement and the old blanket will be marked as unsafe.
Peter Monk, of Suffolk County Council questioned “how many of us are sleeping with a timebomb in our beds? If you have an electric blanket over three years old I urge you to take it to one of the ten fire stations across the county and get it tested. The service is free and it will put your mind at rest before you start to use your blanket for the winter"
Research has shown that forty-one per cent of people aged over 70 have an electric blanket, and if something goes wrong they are the most vulnerable if something goes on.
Mr Monk said: “last year a staggering 60% of the blankets tested were unsafe. Lets hope that this year we can rid Suffolk once and for all of thee unsafe electric blankets.”
Blankets to be tested must be over three years old, in a dry condition complete with any switch or controller. It is also essential that the blanket is clearly labelled with the owner’s name, address and contact phone number.
Haverhill Fire Station will be open on October 4 between 2 and 3pm and on October 5 between 10 am and 1 pm. The blankets can be collected between 9 am and 12 noon on October 18.
The other participating stations are: Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds, Lowestoft, Newmarket, Mildenhall, Sudbury, Eye, Saxmundham and Felixstowe. Details about their opening hours are available by contacting Suffolk Trading Standards on 01473 584368.
The department has also produced a leaflet called “Is Your Electric Blanket Safe?” and is available on 01473 584358.
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