Below, we’ll talk about whether electric blankets are safe. We’ll also look at any potential risks of using an electric blanket, possible safety side effects and touch on some alternatives.
Below we will discuss if electric blankets are safe, the potential risks of electric blanket dangers, how they may be bad for you, and safety tips if you continue to use your blanket.
First and foremost, electric blankets have some side effects that can harm your health. Leading advocates for the disuse of modern electric blankets (due to the health risks) argue that using these products enhances your risk of a cancer diagnosis, [1] pregnancy problems for women, and decreased fertility in men.
The above can be associated with the EMF (electromagnetic fields) to which electric blanket users are exposed.
Like any electrical appliance, electric blankets and heating pads emit some EMFs. While scientists disagree on how harmful they can be, there's one thing that can't be argued: if a product emits EMFs, the last thing you want is for it to be on top of your body, especially for extended periods of time.
Many people remove EMF-emitting devices from their bedroom, including laptops, cell phones, and other devices and appliances.
Did You Know: Concerned about EMFs? Users can reduce EMF when enabling "Airplane Mode" with the Dock Pro Sleep System, a cooling pad for the bed, and let the sleep system run quietly in the background.
Throughout the years, multiple studies have concerned the connection between cancer and the extremely low-frequency electric and magnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) generated by electric blankets. Still, no conclusive evidence from those studies links electric blankets to cancer.
Safety Study: Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields from Use of Electric Blankets and Other In-home Electrical Appliances and Breast Cancer Risk [2]
Developing fetuses are susceptible to environmental conditions. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that pregnant women stop using electric heating blankets while pregnant to avoid any possible risk of complications.
According to Dr. Desiderio Avila at Phoenix’s Ironwood Urology, radiation from electric blankets can possibly damage a woman’s eggs as well as a man’s sperm.
“Testing has revealed that radiation emitted from electric blankets is astronomically high, reaching over 70,000 times acceptable levels,” says Avila. [3]
There is a general rule for using electricity: there is always a potential for fire. The design of an electric blanket or heating pad is often constructed of wires and additional components; all it takes is one of those wires to fray or crimp, causing a life-threatening scenario. The fire hazard risk is minimal if you're using a new electric blanket.
According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), nearly 500 fires are caused yearly due to electric heating blankets and heating pads. If their over ten years old cause the majority of home fires.
Electric Blanket Fire Statistics: Ninety-nine percent of all-electric blanket fires started by blankets that were 10 years or older.
Can I get burns from a heating blanket or heating pad? Heating products, especially those with high settings, also have the potential to burn users, with the most risk surrounding children and the elderly. The skin on older adults, when touched with heat, may be undetectable due to altered temperature receptors, leading to possible burning. [4] Children under the age of 3 may be unable to properly control the temperature settings on an electric blanket.
Individuals with diabetes are uniquely endangered since they often suffer from neuropathy and damage to the nerves. They often have a reduced sensation, usually in their hands and feet, and might not know their heating pad or electric blanket has overheated until it’s too late.
Blanket Safety Tip: “It’s important that anyone with reduced sensation, inability to communicate, or diminished capacity not use electric blankets.” should be wary [5] as well since you don’t want to raise their body temperature to more than 101 degrees Fahrenheit or it could be harmful to the baby.
There are absolutely things you can do to decrease your risks of harm or injury when using these forms of electric heating to stay warm, decrease your heating bill or even to relax your muscles. It’s important to assess your heating pads and blankets before every use and to store them properly. It’s also important to be aware of the time you have them on your body and to not sleep with them turned on.
We realize that there are times when warmth is needed, relaxing and you may fall asleep while using them. If, after reading, you do have concerns about being able to use them safely, there are alternatives included below.
If you have any questions on Extended Electric Heated Shawl, Electric Heating Shawl. We will give the professional answers to your questions.