Electric blanket
Encyclopedia
In the US the electric blanket is a blanket
with an integrated electrical heating
device usually placed above the top bed sheet
. In the UK and Commonwealth, electric blanket commonly refers to an electric mattress pad
, which is placed below the bottom bed sheet. Electric blankets usually have a control unit which adjusts the amount of heat
the blanket produces. Blankets for larger sized beds often have separate controls for each side of the bed. The electric blanket may be used to pre-heat the bed before use or to keep the occupant warm while in bed.
Modern electric blankets have carbon fibre wires. These blankets usually work on 24 volts instead of the 110/240 volts. Therefore, they are advertised as being a safer, more efficient and more comfortable alternative.
Direct heat therapy is one of the main reasons for using an electric blanket. Applying heat to muscles increases bloodflow; this enhances muscle nutrition and relaxation, which helps with healing and pain and eases sleep. Persons who suffer from back pain
, tension, or injuries may find relief through the application of heat to affected areas. Heat provided by electric blankets and mattress pads relieves muscle pain and soreness caused by arthritis
and fibromyalgia
, according to The Arthritis Helpbook, recommended by the Arthritis Foundation
and the Arthritis Society, and Arthritis 101, the official publication of the Arthritis Foundation. Those with Raynaud's phenomenon
or post-polio syndrome
may use heated bedding to avoid damage and relieve discomfort caused by poor circulation or cold intolerance.
Electric blankets and mattress pads also can help health conditions indirectly, such as sinus conditions and allergies. They allow one to sleep in lower room temperatures and avoid breathing hotter dry air. Conversely, the heat provided by these devices reduces moisture in the bedding, retarding the growth of dust mite populations, a common allergen; using an electric blanket for a month or turning a device on 'high' for a few hours a month can reduce mites by 50%. An electric blanket or pad also allows users to maintain a more comfortable temperature and gain the general benefits associated with deep and uninterrupted sleep.
material, and a sleeping occupant, the use of electric blankets is of concern to fire safety officials internationally. Of primary concern are blankets that are older than 10 years and/or have been subject to damage, by creasing, flexing, fraying, or ordinary wear and tear. In the UK
, it is estimated that 5,000 fires
per year are caused by faulty electric blankets, of which 99% are believed to have been caused by blankets 10 years or older.
Electric blankets also present a burn risk to those who cannot feel pain or are unable to react to it. Individuals included in this group are small children, diabetics, and the elderly.
.
Blanket
A blanket is a type of bedding, generally speaking, a large piece of cloth, intended to keep the user warm, especially while sleeping. Blankets are distinguished from sheets by their thickness and purpose; the thickest sheet is still thinner than the lightest blanket. Blankets are generally used...
with an integrated electrical heating
Heating element
A heating element converts electricity into heat through the process of Joule heating. Electric current through the element encounters resistance, resulting in heating of the element....
device usually placed above the top bed sheet
Bed sheet
A bed sheet is a piece of cloth used to cover a mattress. It is this sheet that one typically lies on.In many areas of the world, a second flat bed sheet is laid on top of the sheet covering the mattress. This is known as a "top sheet" and when a top sheet is used, the sheet covering the mattress...
. In the UK and Commonwealth, electric blanket commonly refers to an electric mattress pad
Mattress pad
A mattress pad is designed to lie atop an existing mattress. They are made primarily from foam. Their function is to provide a layer of comfort and warmth between the user and the mattress. They are of particular benefit when the existing mattress is worn or uncomfortable. Toppers quite often have...
, which is placed below the bottom bed sheet. Electric blankets usually have a control unit which adjusts the amount of heat
Heat
In physics and thermodynamics, heat is energy transferred from one body, region, or thermodynamic system to another due to thermal contact or thermal radiation when the systems are at different temperatures. It is often described as one of the fundamental processes of energy transfer between...
the blanket produces. Blankets for larger sized beds often have separate controls for each side of the bed. The electric blanket may be used to pre-heat the bed before use or to keep the occupant warm while in bed.
Modern electric blankets have carbon fibre wires. These blankets usually work on 24 volts instead of the 110/240 volts. Therefore, they are advertised as being a safer, more efficient and more comfortable alternative.
History
The first electric blanket was invented in 1912 by American physician Sidney I. Russell. This earliest form of an electric blanket was an ‘underblanket’ under the bed that covered and heated from below. There is some dispute about when the first electric overblankets. The first recorded publication of such a unit was in 1930 by Samson United Corporation in 1930. But other claim it was later in 1937, Electric 'overblankets' which lie on top of the sleeping person were introduced in the United States.Method
Like a heating pad, electric blankets use an insulated wire or heating element inserted into a fabric that heats when it is plugged in. The temperature control unit, located between the blanket and the electrical outlet, manages the level of electricity entering into the heat elements in the blanket. Newer electric blankets work on a low voltage of 24 volts and have a shutoff mechanism to prevent the blanket from overheating or catching fire. Older units (10 years or more) may not have a shut-off mechanism and users run the risk of overheating. Older blankets are considered fire hazards.Modern Electric Blankets
Some more modern electric blankets use carbon fiber wires to heat the user. These wires are far less bulky and conspicuous than older heating wires. Carbon fiber wires are also used as the heating element in many high-end heated car seats. Blankets can be purchased with rheostats that regulate the heat by managing body heat and blanket temperatures, ensuring a comfortable experience.Health Benefits
A quarter of people purchasing electric blankets and heated mattress pads do so for health benefits beyond general comfort.Direct heat therapy is one of the main reasons for using an electric blanket. Applying heat to muscles increases bloodflow; this enhances muscle nutrition and relaxation, which helps with healing and pain and eases sleep. Persons who suffer from back pain
Back pain
Back pain is pain felt in the back that usually originates from the muscles, nerves, bones, joints or other structures in the spine.The pain can often be divided into neck pain, upper back pain, lower back pain or tailbone pain...
, tension, or injuries may find relief through the application of heat to affected areas. Heat provided by electric blankets and mattress pads relieves muscle pain and soreness caused by arthritis
Arthritis
Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints....
and fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a medical disorder characterized by chronic widespread pain and allodynia, a heightened and painful response to pressure. It is an example of a diagnosis of exclusion...
, according to The Arthritis Helpbook, recommended by the Arthritis Foundation
Arthritis Foundation
The Arthritis Foundation is the largest national nonprofit organization solely dedicated to the prevention, control and cure of arthritis, the leading cause of disability in the United States....
and the Arthritis Society, and Arthritis 101, the official publication of the Arthritis Foundation. Those with Raynaud's phenomenon
Raynaud's phenomenon
In medicine, Raynaud's phenomenon is a vasospastic disorder causing discoloration of the fingers, toes, and occasionally other areas. This condition can also cause nails to become brittle with longitudinal ridges. Named for French physician Maurice Raynaud , the phenomenon is believed to be the...
or post-polio syndrome
Post-polio syndrome
Post-polio syndrome is a condition that affects approximately 25–50% of people who have previously contracted poliomyelitis—a viral infection of the nervous system—after the initial infection. Typically the symptoms appear 15–30 years after recovery from the original paralytic attack, at an age of...
may use heated bedding to avoid damage and relieve discomfort caused by poor circulation or cold intolerance.
Electric blankets and mattress pads also can help health conditions indirectly, such as sinus conditions and allergies. They allow one to sleep in lower room temperatures and avoid breathing hotter dry air. Conversely, the heat provided by these devices reduces moisture in the bedding, retarding the growth of dust mite populations, a common allergen; using an electric blanket for a month or turning a device on 'high' for a few hours a month can reduce mites by 50%. An electric blanket or pad also allows users to maintain a more comfortable temperature and gain the general benefits associated with deep and uninterrupted sleep.
Safety concerns
Due to the combination of heat, electricity, the abundance of flammable beddingBedding
Bedding refers to the materials laid above the mattress of a bed for hygiene, warmth, to protect the mattress, and for decorative effect. Bedding is the removable and washable portion of a human sleeping environment. It is more easily and economically replaced than the bed itself...
material, and a sleeping occupant, the use of electric blankets is of concern to fire safety officials internationally. Of primary concern are blankets that are older than 10 years and/or have been subject to damage, by creasing, flexing, fraying, or ordinary wear and tear. In the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, it is estimated that 5,000 fires
Structure fire
A structure fire is a fire involving the structural components of various residential buildings ranging from single-family detached homes and townhouses to apartments and tower blocks, or various commercial buildings ranging from offices to shopping malls...
per year are caused by faulty electric blankets, of which 99% are believed to have been caused by blankets 10 years or older.
Electric blankets also present a burn risk to those who cannot feel pain or are unable to react to it. Individuals included in this group are small children, diabetics, and the elderly.
Popular culture
A cartoon electrical blanket with its electrical temperature control acting as an anthropomorphic face named "Blanky" was portrayed in the 1987 film The Brave Little ToasterThe Brave Little Toaster (film)
The Brave Little Toaster is a 1987 animated adventure film adapted from the 1980 novel of the same name by Thomas Disch. The film was directed by Jerry Rees and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The film is set in a world where household appliances and other electronics have the ability to speak...
.
External links
- The City of Fairfax, Virginia on electric blanket safety
- Fire safety information for models sold in Europe.
- Detailed UK study on electric blanket safety. (in Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
) - A 1998 CPSC document detailing differences in heating element construction between US and European electric blankets.