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Home safety

Electric Blanket Testing

The Council together with Trading Standards and Oxfordshire Fire Service carries out free safety checks, for residents of West Oxfordshire, normally during September, as part of a countywide scheme.

Testing Days

The last tesing days were:

• Witney - 8th October 2008
• Chipping Norton - 21st October 2008

Please use the online form to register your interest in future days.

Test Results

The test results for West Oxfordshire, for previous years, are shown in the table below.

Old or damaged blankets cause more than 5,000 fires a year; blankets more than 10 years old are responsible for 99% of these. Each year around 20 people are killed and 100 injured as a result of such fires. The danger signs are:

• Worn or frayed fabric.
• Scorch marks.
• Tie tapes (if originally fitted) damaged or missing.
• Flex worn or damaged.
• Loose electrical connections.
• Damaged or displaced heating wires (hold the blanket up to the light to check).

If your blanket is more than 10 years old, or showing signs of wear and tear, the best advice is to get a new one. When choosing a blanket, always buy new and look out for a European Certification Mark such as the new BEAB safety mark.

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