Safety must absolutely be the single most important consideration when it comes to choosing and using an electric blanket to beat the winter cold.
The thought of an electric blanket that may be even potentially unsafe due to electrical faults, will sure to give its user cold feet during the night.
As part of the surveillance to monitor the safety of this product, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department in collaboration with the Consumer Council have tested four single-bed electric underblankets available in the market.
By and large, the results proved to be satisfactory - though not without some minor flaws.
A power cord was unable to withstand the pull of a 10 kg weight. The colour of an internal wire was incorrectly designated.
The thickness of the sheath of a power supply cord fell short of the minimum requirement slightly. The insulation distance between live parts of printed circuit board in a sample and the part which could be touched by the user was slightly less than minimum requirement.
During an abnormal operation of a folded sample (which must be avoided), the temperature rise measured was found to exceed the limit of the international standard but no smoke or flame was observed in the test.
Some samples were found to be missing in warnings of one kind or another in the instruction sheets. And one had markings of warnings in German only but not in English or Chinese.
To ensure safety, users are urged to observe the following:
- Always read and follow the instructions.
- Do not use while it is wet or folded.
- Never insert pins through the blanket.
- Do not pull the cord.
- Always inspect for signs of wear and damage, such as scorched marks and displaced heating elements. Stop using if any of these is found.
- Do not use with a person incapable of self care, an infant or a person insensitive to heat.
- Pull out the plug while not in use.
- Store the blanket in a dry place without weight on it.
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