Time to check electric blankets

By Frank Neill

With winter on its way it’s important to check your electric blankets.

“A faulty electric blanket is a fire waiting to happen,” the

Wainuiomata Volunteer Fire Brigade says.

“If you feel unusually hot patches in your electric blanket, or if it is more than five years old, replace it now.”

The way to check for hot spots is to turn the blanket on high for 15 minutes, switch it off and run your hand over the blanket. Even if the blanket appears to be all right, it is definitely worth having it checked.

Ivan Morrison is providing electric blanket checks at the Te Omanga Hospice Shop, 6 The Strand, on Friday afternoons. People having their blankets checked are asked to make a donation to Te Omanga Hospice.