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In wintertime, one of most effective and convenient ways to keep warm while sleeping is by using an electric blanket. However, some people still believe that electric blankets are unsafe to use, so they turn to other methods to keep themselves warm at night.

In this blog, you will learn truth about the supposed hazards of electric blankets as well as how to use them to ensure your safety.

Are electric blankets safe?

Dangers about the use of electric blankets spread in the mid- to late-’90s, when electric blankets caused a huge number of house fires. This lead to more and more people being wary of or afraid to use the products.

• Are electric blanket prone to catching fire?

From late 80s until the mid 90s, there were thousands of electric blanket fires reported in the UK, some of which caused serious injuries and even death. Most of the fires were the result of the wires inside the electric blankets overheating.

It was found that 99% of the fires stemmed from the use of products that were 10 to 35 years old, so their quality had already significantly declined.

Another reason for the fires was that people did not use and store their electric blankets properly. Some left their electric blanket plugged in for extended periods of time even when the product was not in use, which resulted in the wires overheating. Others stored their electric blankets by crumpling or folding the product, inadvertently causing the wires to get bent out of shape and eventually break.

• The truth about electric blanket fires

A majority of the fires were caused by two reasons:

1) Electric blankets that were worn out after more than 10 years of use, and

2) People not using or storing their electric blankets in the right way.

The fires were not due to inherent problems with the products themselves, but how people used and stored them. Electric blankets today are also way more advanced that their early counterparts, so they’re perfectly safe to use.

Modern electric blankets usually have an automatic shut off feature that is activated once the blanket reaches a certain temperature. This prevents the product from overheating and protects the user from experiencing any injury.

• Do electric blankets cause cancer?

Just like any other electrical device, electric blankets emit an electromagnetic field (EMF) when turned on. Some people believe long-term exposure to it can damage the body and cause cancer, specifically brain tumors and breast cancer.

Please note that some electric blankets and flexible heating products made with higher quality has low electromagnetic field. Wellcare is proud to say our electric underblankets are all manufactured with low EMF!

• The truth about electric blankets causing cancer

Modern electric blankets are also manufactured specifically to produce much lower EMF. Studies have been conducted to prove this correlation, but so far, researchers have not found strong evidence linking cancer to electric blanket usage.

In this study, it shows electric blanket is not directly related to thyroid cancer in women. Nor do electric blankets cause breast cancer for women.

As you can see, electric blankets are an absolutely safe way to keep warm. They are not prone to catching fire and they do not cause cancer.

How to use electric blankets safely

Here are some tips to keep yourself comfortable and safe when using your electric blanket.

1. Unplug your electric blanket after every use.
   
   
2. Avoid folding or crumpling your electric blanket when storing it. Instead, roll it and keep it in a cool, dry place. Alternatively, you can also hang it.
   
   
3. If you use your electric blanket every night, simply leave it flat and unplugged on your bed like a regular blanket or comforter.
   
   
4. Make sure that you wash your electric blanket according only to the manufacturer’s instructions.
   
   
5. Buy only a high-quality electric blanket from a reputable brand.
   
   
6. Use your electric blanket for a maximum of 5~10 years, no matter how high-quality it is. Once your blanket is 10 years old, replace it with a brand new one.

As long as you follow these tips, you don’t have to worry about your health or safety.

Electric underblankets are very safe as long as you use them correctly. It is a great way to keep yourself warm during cold winters!

Who should be careful when using an electric blanket?

Even though electric blankets are considered safe, it is not appropriate to use them in certain cases such as:

• Pregnancy

It is best to not use electric blankets if you are pregnant. This is because raising your body temperature to 38.5°C (approx. 101°F) during pregnancy is harmful for the developing fetus.

What you can do is warm your bed around 30 minutes to one hour before sleeping by using an electric blanket. Just remember to unplug it before you sleep.

• Diabetes

In case you are diabetic, you are most likely experiencing several health complications related with the disease. One such complication is diabetic neuropathy, which causes you to lose feeling or sensation in the affected area.

It’s advisable to not use electric blankets because diabetic neuropathy would make it almost impossible for you to know if you are being burned by the blanket in the affected area.

If you want to keep warm, you can use an electric blanket to heat your bed 30 minutes to one hour before you sleep and unplug the product before you lie down.

• Infants and pets

It is not ideal to use electric blankets on pets, infants and children under 3 years old for the simple reason that they have no control over the product. They would not be able to unplug it, or adjust its temperature.

Do you want to learn more about electric blanket safety? Click here for a detailed guide to electric blanket safety!

Choose Wellcare

Looking for an electric blanket that is durable and safe? Then look no further than Wellcare. To ensure your complete safety, all our products are manufactured under strict guidelines using only the finest materials available.

Wellcare electric blankets are equipped with what we call the Active Protection System (APS). With the APS, you will automatically know if critical component in the product (e.g. the wiring) is damaged or malfunctioning because you will see a red light and hear a beeping sound coming from the controller.

So, what are you waiting for? Grab a Wellcare electric blanket today.