Word of Advice

18 June 2007

With winter creeping in you’ll be thinking about how to stay warm through those long cold nights. Obviously the best option is to snuggle up to your partner, but if that’s not an option you’ll need to keep warm another way, either by using a hot water bottle or an electric blanket.

Hot water bottles

When shopping for a hot water bottle, take time to make sure the screw top fits snugly and check the safety standard is the current British Standard BS 1970. A new product safety notice has been issued by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs’ Product Safety Service called the Unsafe Goods (Hot Water Bottles) Notice 2007.

This means that all hot water bottles entering New Zealand have to comply with the British Standard for hot water bottles. This includes hot water bottles made from rubber and from PVC. Anyone wanting to sell hot water bottles in New Zealand must have the bottles tested to this standard and have testing certificates from an approved laboratory to prove this. These certificates are usually shown at importation to customs officers.

Before using your hot water bottle, check for signs of wear such as splits or aging in the rubber and loose thread in the tops. Test it with cold water first to make sure there are no leaks.

Don’t use boiling water to fill your hot water bottle – over time this reduces the durability of the rubber, and also creates a risk of burns. For extra safety cover the hot water bottle with a towel or hottie cover.

Don’t overfill your bottle as this puts pressure on the bottle and they can burst. After filling your bottle, shake it upside down and away from you, to check that the screw top fits snugly.

For children and the elderly, use the bottle to warm the bed, and then remove it before they get into bed. A wheat bag is not a good option for heating a bed. Wheat bags must always have plenty of free air around them because they continue to heat and can spontaneously ignite.

Electric Blankets

Energy Safety (the Government agency responsible for Electrical and Gas safety issues) has some simple tips for using your electric blanket this winter.

Firstly, check your electric blanket each year, regardless of how new it is. Three to five years of regular use is about the maximum expected safe life of an electric blanket. If it has been subject to high use, spills or other abnormal treatment, consider replacing your blanket sooner than this.

Retain the provided instructions and follow any safety precautions. Before using your electric blanket for the first time each year, it is important to refer to the instructions for use provided with the blanket.

Before using the blanket each year it is very important to carefully check the blanket for damage and wear. Check again each time you change the sheets. Visually Inspect the control switch, cord, and plug, and look for any kinks, worn wires, scorch marks, or breaks in the heating element.

When putting the blanket on your bed, ensure it lies flat, as creasing can damage the heating elements. Secure the blanket firmly using the attached ties. Pins or sharp objects must not be used. Make sure the cord is extended, not coiled, and in a clear area where it won’t get damaged.

After inspecting your blanket, turn it on for 15 minutes at the highest setting (don’t leave the room) and then turn it off and unplug it from the mains supply. Run your hand over the blanket and feel for hot spots. A hot spot means the heating coil has been kinked or damaged. This could lead to fire or electric shock, so you need to dispose of it.

Although not recommended, if you intend to use an electric blanket continuously while asleep, consult the instructions to confirm that it can be used in this way. Ensure that the controls are switched to the lowest settings if using the blanket continuously while asleep.

Avoid putting clothes or other things (apart from bed linen) on the bed while an electric blanket is on. This could cause the blanket to overheat and may start a fire. Be especially careful of pets lying on top of the bed. Never leave an electric blanket unattended for long periods of time when it is switched on.

If an electric blanket gets wet, dry it thoroughly according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Never drink in bed or place a hot water bottle in your bed when you are using your electric blanket.

Electric blankets should not be used with young children until they stay dry through the night and have been instructed on how to operate it safely. If the blanket is faulty, any dampness could cause an electric shock.

Very important, when storing the blanket during times when it is not used, consult the instructions for recommended details on how to fold and store it. If no instructions are available, store the blanket loosely rolled (in corrugated cardboard, if possible) or leave it flat in a dry area where no objects will be placed on it. Storing objects on your blanket is likely to damage the heating elements. Failure to store the blanket correctly will result in significantly reducing the working life of your electric blanket.