Image for Faulty Electric Blanket story
Faulty Electric Blanket

Methil crews were mobilised to a fire caused by a faulty electric blanket.

Luckily the fire had extinguished on their arrival and all occupants were unharmed.

Crew Manager for Community Safety John Dempsey says “Old and damaged electric blankets continue to be a major cause of fire in the home. Faulty blankets can overheat, malfunction and cause serious injury or death. Older people are at greatest risk, with six times the national average of fatal injuries and twice the national average of non-fatal injuries occurring within that age group”.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are working in partnership to reduce the number of accidental house fires within the Fife area from faulty electric blankets. 

Working with Fife Council’s Protective Services and Fife Cares, our aim is to reduce the number of house fires and resulting injuries caused by faulty electric blankets.

Geoff Bates, Service Manager, Protective Services explains, “51% of the electric blankets tested across Fife last year failed safety checks. The project is open to all members of the community and I would urge Fifers to bring their blankets along to be tested. It’s free, only takes a few minutes, but gives that extra peace of mind that you will be safe. The usual reason blankets fail is that due to their age and continuous use, a fault has developed in the wiring or they don’t have an overheat protection system found in newer blankets.”

The Community Safety Partnership hold these electric blanket testing events for Fife residents and they are held around Fife throughout the year in local community halls. You can bring your blanket along to have a free electrical safety test carried out.  No appointment necessary.

Funding comes from the Electrical Safety Council (ESC) and Scottish & Southern Energy plc (SSE).

Forthcoming electric blanket events:

Electric Blanket Testing 2015

Dates & Venues

 

 

Dates

Time

Area

Venue

Tues 21st April

10.00 – 13.00

Leven

Balmaise Community Centre, Linnwood Drive, Leven, KY8 5AE

Wed 29th April

10.00 – 13.00

Newport

Caledonia Sheltered Housing, Kinbrae Park Gardens, Newport on Tay, DD6 8JX

Tues 12th May

10.00 – 14.00

Glenrothes

Lomond Centre, Woodside Way, Glenrothes, KY7 5RA

Tel 440692

Thurs 21st  May

10.00 – 14.00

St Andrews

Victory Memorial Hall, St Mary’s Place, St Andrews, KY16 9UY. Tel 01334 477708

Thurs 28th May

 

10.00 – 14.00

Rosyth

 

Parkgate Community Centre, Parkgate, Rosyth, KY11 2JW

 

Thurs 3rd Sept

10.00 – 13.00

Ladybank

Caledonia Sheltered Housing, The Maltings, Ladybank, KY15 7JR

Wed 9th Sept

10.00 – 14.00

Dunfermline

Baldridgeburn Community Centre, Baldridgeburn, Dunfermline, KY12 9EH. Tel 01383 724751

Wed 16th Sept

10.00 – 14.00

Kirkcaldy

Templehall Community Centre, Beauly Place, Kirkcaldy, KY2 6EX. Tel 583363

Tues 22nd Sept

10.00 – 13.00

Lochgelly

Lochgelly Centre, Bank Street, Lochgelly, KY5 9RD

 

Tues 29th Sept

10.00 – 13.00

Inverkeithing

Civic Centre, 10 Queen Street, Inverkeithing, KY11 1PA

 

Wed 7th October

11.00 – 14.00

Anstruther

East Neuk Centre, Ladywalk, Anstruther, KY10 3EX

Tel 460573

 

Further information: www.fifedirect.org.uk/electricblankets

 

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