| For some of us an electric blanket is a part of our | | | | usually less than the time and gas money you'd |
| modern day survival kit. We couldn't manage | | | | spend driving from store to store. |
| without one and how did we or our parents ever | | | | Too many families are cremated every winter |
| manage those cold beds without an electric | | | | because of faulty wiring in heaters, electric |
| blanket or heated mattress warmer? In the very | | | | blankets and other warming devices. In our house |
| olden days they would have one of the servants | | | | we have a Thanksgiving ritual where we change |
| hop in to warm it up while the master or mistress | | | | the batteries in the smoke detectors and make |
| was made ready for bed by the other servants. | | | | sure the fire extinguishers in the kitchen, |
| Poorer people might take a pet to bed for | | | | basement and garage are fully charged. When |
| warmth, hence the origins of the term "cold as a | | | | they get low we hold a fire drill and let the kids |
| three dog night". | | | | practice putting out a fire, then buy new units. We |
| But for over fifty years now electric blankets | | | | use the small hand held extinguishers you can use |
| have been available and for the last fifteen or | | | | in your car, cheap and effective and if they aren't |
| twenty, very affordable for most people. Some | | | | enough we should be evacuating, not fighting the |
| people leave them on all night, others just have | | | | fire. |
| them warm the bed before going to sleep then | | | | We check our electric blankets the day we put |
| turn it down or switch it off entirely. Upscale units | | | | them back on the bed after summer is over. |
| come with dual controls, thermostats and timers | | | | We're getting four or five years out of them |
| to take care of these things for you. When it | | | | before we start to get a bit dubious about the |
| gets warm enough it switches off. If it cools | | | | wear and tear. I replaced one this year that is still |
| down too much it comes back on again. Lovely. | | | | good enough for another year, maybe two (so it |
| Of course these units cost more and while some | | | | is kept as a guest blanket) but this way we have |
| parents will buy one for their bed, the kids end up | | | | started a program of rolling replacement, one |
| with their old blanket, which might have seen | | | | every fall. With five kids it gets expensive to |
| considerable wear and tear over the years. Some | | | | replace everything at once and I'd prefer to |
| faults might even be hidden from inspection and | | | | spend a little more for a better quality electric |
| could lead to tragedy. A short circuit due to a | | | | blanket. |
| frayed cord sees the electricity leaping across the | | | | We also have a trip switch circuit breaker fitted |
| gap at close to 186,000 miles a second. Your child | | | | that will shut off the power before a kid |
| might suffer such a shock and it is all very | | | | electrocutes herself and we have all power points |
| avoidable. | | | | fitted with plug caps so they can't stick fingers or |
| First of all, check your kid's electric blankets for | | | | metal items into the holes. We also run the leads |
| wear and tear, frayed material that indicates | | | | for their electric blankets down the back of the |
| perhaps worse problems and any obvious signs of | | | | bed so they don't even see it or the plug. It |
| damage. If in doubt, even the slightest niggle, cut | | | | makes getting to the control unit a little harder |
| the plug off and dispose of the blanket | | | | but worth the extra effort to keep curious little |
| thoughtfully. Don't just toss it out and make it | | | | hands off. |
| someone else's problem. | | | | Give the topic some thought, discuss it with your |
| New blankets are cheap, much cheaper than | | | | family and make everyone aware of the issue. |
| hospitals, ambulances and funerals. You can shop | | | | Far better than keeping quiet and hoping nothing |
| online and find the best bargains and good quality | | | | ever goes wrong, right? |
| items at the right price and shipping costs are | | | | |