This is the question that the Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service,
Trading Standards, Age Concern and the Electrical Safety Council
are asking the residents of Suffolk.
Hopefully, you won’t be experiencing cold nights at this time of
year but have you thought ahead to when the nights start to get
colder and you think about putting your electric blanket on to warm
your bed before you get in?
Joanna Spicer, Suffolk County Council’s Portfolio Holder for
Public Protection said:
“Badly maintained appliances could easily start a fire, destroy
homes and cost lives. Dusting off your old electric blanket each
year may not be good enough if you want to stay safe.
“Every year in the United Kingdom, there are over a thousand fires
caused by electric blankets and some of these have resulted in
death. We are here to protect the public which is why we are
providing these free safety checks. We know that there are still
old electric blankets out there in homes across Suffolk which may
not be safe for use. Book your appointment at one of the venues
near you so you don’t miss out on the opportunity to get your
blanket tested.”
Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service spokesman Ian Bowell said:
“In the last ten years, the Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service and
Trading Standards have tested nearly four thousand electric
blankets. Of those tested almost half were found to be potentially
lethal and were condemned. Because of this we are offering ten days
of free electric blanket testing at different locations across the
county.”
Testing dates and locations 2008
To get your electric blanket tested, you will need to book your
place in advance. The booking line is now open and the number to
contact is:
01473 260586
29 September
St Felix Church Hall
Gainsborough Road
FELIXSTOWE
30 September
Newmarket Fire Station
Willie Snaith Road
NEWMARKET
1 October
Richards Room
Community Hall
Old Felixstowe Road
MARTLESHAM
2 October
Stowmarket Fire Station
Lockington Road
STOWMARKET
3 October
Elisabeth Room
Endeavour House
Russell Road
IPSWICH
6 October
Town Hall
SUDBURY
7 October
Town Hall
HADLEIGH
8 October
Athenaeum
Angel Hill
BURY ST EDMUNDS
9 October
Navigator Centre
Clapham Road South
LOWESTOFT
10 October
Bramford Village Hall
BRAMFORD
Blankets should be tested routinely every three years and should
not be used at all if they show any of the following tell-tale
danger signs:
- Fraying fabric
- Scorch marks
- Exposed elements
- Creasing or folding
- Soiling
- Damp patches
- Tie tapes damaged or missing
- Worn flex
- Loose connections
- An old BEAB (British Electrotechnical Approvals Board) safety
mark. The old mark, which means the blanket is more than ten years
old, is a round symbol. The new sign shows white capital letters on
a black background.
For those which fail the tests carried out by the
council, the Electrical Safety Council has offered to provide a
number of safe blankets to replace them.
ENDS
Councillor Contacts
Joanna Spicer, Portfolio holder for public protection, Tel:
01359 230800; Email:
joanna.spicer@councillors.suffolkcc.gov.uk
Roger Bellham, Labour lead for public protection, Tel: 01502
565499, Mobile: 07885 852729, Email:
roger.bellham@councillors.suffolkcc.gov.uk
John Field, Liberal Democrat and Independent Group spokesperson
for public protection, Tel: 01473 831306, Mobile: 07508054679,
Email:
john.field@councillors.suffolkcc.gov.uk
Media Contact
Helen Dodman, Press Officer, Tel: 01473 264397, Email:
helen.dodman@comms.suffolkcc.gov.uk