Free electric blanket check for local people

Cllr Jenny Palmer, Chairwoman of the Council's Environmental Services Committee, promotes the safety first message for free electric blanket testing, available by booking your appointment with the Council and urges be safe. The Home Safety event is on Tuesday September 10.

Lisburn City Council’s Environmental Health Service is hosting the checks by appointment only on Tuesday September 10 from 10am - 4pm in the Rowan Room at the Island Civic Centre.

Chairwoman of the Environmental Services Committee, Councillor Jenny Palmer is keen to promote this service to ratepayers.

She said: ”As the cold winter months approach, many people will be dusting off their electric blankets ready for use. We would like to invite you to the above event to ensure that your electric blanket is safe to use as old or damaged electric blankets cause over 5,000 fires a year. Research has shown that electric blankets, ten years old or more are still in use in some homes. These are responsible for 99% of fires caused by electric blankets which each year see 20 people killed and 100 injured in such fires.”

“Please come along to Lagan Valley Island on the September 10 and make sure your blanket is safe for use. Please also encourage any elderly neighbours to attend, or people who feel the cold and use an electric blanket, to make an appointment and come along. It is better to be safe than sorry and life is so precious,” she added.

It is important to get your electric blanket serviced regularly, at least every three years. It is cheaper to replace a worn electric blanket than it is to replace your family and your home, so if you are in any doubt about the condition of your electric blanket make an appointment for it to be tested. Alternatively bin it and buy a new one.

You should replace your electric blanket at least every 10 years. Don’t buy a second hand blanket.

For further information on this event or to make an appointment to get your electric blanket tested please contact: Liza Gormley, Lisburn City Council’s Environmental Health Service on 9250 9382 or Email: [email protected]

When using an electric blanket, don’t place it between the mattress and box spring. Never use an electric under-blanket as an over-blanket, and vice versa. Don’t get blankets wet, and if your blanket does get wet, don’t use it.