Many older people across the UK will be relying on their electric blanket for warmth this winter, oblivious to the potential dangers of simply plugging it in.
Old or damaged electric blankets cause more than 5,000 house fires in the UK each year and older people aged 65 years or more are at greatest risk, with six times the national average of fatal injuries.¹
Age Concern has teamed up with E.ON, the company that runs Powergen, for the seventh consecutive year to offer free electric blanket testing to older people. All worn or potentially dangerous electric blankets will be repaired or replaced by E.ON free of charge. ; Last year, 67 per cent of blankets tested were found to be faulty.
Electric blankets should be checked by a qualified technician every three years for signs of wear or damage. ; But even a basic safety check can cost up to £35 – almost half the weekly state pension² – and many older people either cannot afford to pay or are unaware of just how much it could cost not to have their blanket tested.
To help older people sleep in safety this winter, E.ON is funding 60 testing days across the UK from November to February.
Gordon Lishman, Director General at Age Concern England, said: “The winter months can be very difficult for older people who sometimes struggle to keep warm. Each year we meet hundreds of people who don’t realise how dangerous it can be to use an old or damaged electric blanket. We want as many people as possible to take advantage of our scheme this year to ensure a warm and safe winter.”
Nina Hughes, Community Relations Manager at E.ON, said: “We’re really pleased to be working with Age Concern again this year to help older people sleep more safely this winter. Since the project began six years ago, over 60% of the blankets tested have failed the safety check – a startling statistic which highlights the importance of older people having their blankets checked regularly by an expert. It’s just not worth taking the risk.”
Since the scheme began in 1999, Age Concern and E.ON have tested a total of 21,038 blankets, of which 13,152 have been repaired or replaced by E.ON free of charge. There are 50% more testing days this year, with the potential to test about 1,500 more blankets than in previous years.
The success of the project has also been recognised by the awarding of two consecutive Business in the Community Big Ticks, and the accolade of Community Initiative of the Year at the 2004 Utility Industry Achievement Awards.
About E.ON
E.ON UK is part of the E.ON Group – the world’s largest private-sector energy services company. ; E.ON is the company that runs Powergen – one of UK’s leading energy suppliers. For more information visit www.powergen.co.uk or www.eon-uk.com .
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