An electric blanket is, well, electric. It heats. It warms you when you are cold and can be a welcome release from winter nights if you’re living in colder climates. This sounds like a perfect solution to cold weather and saving on your heating bill, right?
Well, it’s mostly true, and if you’re on this page, you may be asking yourself, Is my electric blanket safe to use?
In most cases, when an electric blanket is used appropriately and according to manufacturer guidelines, an electric blanket does not pose any significant health or safety risks. However, an electric blanket can be unsafe and even dangerous if used improperly.
These risks can also go up if you have children or animals in the house. If you’re worried about this, there are ways to keep warm and save on that heating bill.
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: Are you concerned about EMFs? Users can reduce EMF when enabling "Airplane Mode" with the Chilipad Dock Pro bed system, a cooling mattress topper 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.
Electric blankets can be safe to use during pregnancy as long as they are set to a moderate temperature. Aim for a warmth level that keeps you comfortable without being hot enough to cause burns or raise your body temperature.
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.
Regularly inspecting the wires inside the electric blanket is crucial to prevent safety hazards. To ensure the wiring in the blanket remains functional and safe for use, avoid crushing the heating elements and wires during storage.
According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), nearly 500 fires are caused yearly due to electric heating blankets and heating pads. If they're over ten years old, they cause the majority of home fires.
Electric Blanket Fire Statistics: Ninety-nine percent of all electric blanket fires were started by blankets that were 10 years or older.
Before using electric heated blankets, please take a few moments to inspect it thoroughly before use. By taking a few extra seconds before use, you’ll be able to determine if there are any issues with the blanket that can result in injury or a house fire.
With the potential dangers associated with electric blankets, the question becomes, “are electric blankets our only option?” Fortunately, we are not without alternatives to a heating pad or heated blankets. If you have
If you are concerned about the various safety concerns of using an electric blanket, there are quite a few options and even safer alternatives to help keep you warm.
Below are some safe options to explore.
The Chilipad Dock Pro, our best mattress cooling system and Cube, the original cooling pad, circulates temperature-controlled water through a thin mattress pad.
This innovative technology allows you to customize your bed to your exact preference, with the temperature that can be set between 55º to 115ºF, allowing optimal comfort throughout the night.
Whether used as a heated mattress pad or for cooling, the Chilipad is your best option.
Why Water? Water has natural thermal advantages that make our temperature-regulated mattress topper very effective in heating and cooling.
That's right.— Try a good, old-fashioned, non-electric blanket to get snug as a bug. This continues to be the easiest way to warm up your bed and keep you warm all night long. When it's time to choose a blanket, make sure it will help you stay warm.
The warmest materials for blankets are cotton, wool, cashmere, and fleece. If one is warm, then two will certainly be warmer. If you're still cold, keep piling on the blankets until you're completely warm.
To help you keep your bed warm, try removing your standard sheets and replacing them with flannel sheets. Flannel traps heat in insulating air pockets. So, when in bed, your body heat is trapped, and the pockets help retain it. Basically, it insulates you while you’re sleeping.
Did You Know: Even though you aren’t in your bed, the pockets continue to retain the warm air.
Sometimes a warm set of pajamas is all it takes to keep cozy when it's cold out. There are plenty of fabrics to choose from to keep warm for a great night's sleep.
Flannel, wool, cotton, fleece, silk, and thermal are just a few that help you stay warm during the cold weather, making getting out of bed during the night a little easier.
Sleeping Tip: If you’re concerned about getting too warm, flannel is the most breathable listed above.
Like Ralphie in the movie "Christmas Story," you could even channel your inner childhood and wear a bright pink bunny suit with big floppy ears to stay warm.
As strange as it seems, there are benefits to sleeping with socks. When thinking about wearing socks to sleep, it’s expected to think your feet would overheat. But, in reality, doing so may assist in lowering the body’s core temperature regulation, helping you achieve better sleep.
Not only does wearing them help you get better sleep, but a study reported that individuals who sleep with them fell asleep faster. [6]
Do You Wear Socks in Bed? 28% of people love wearing socks when they go to bed, while 44% mentioned they hate going to bed with them on. [7]
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