Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: kdlynn on 01/10/2007 03:35:49

Title: can an electric blanket hurt you?
Post by: kdlynn on 01/10/2007 03:35:49

my grandma recently gave me an electric blanket. i love this thing! it's like a full body heating pad! but that got me thinking... leaving a heating pad on for too long can be bad for you... can my blankie hurt me if i leave it on all night?

Title: can an electric blanket hurt you?
Post by: another_someone on 01/10/2007 03:51:54

I would think it unlikely that it would cause a healthy adult any harm through the heat itself (although you should ofcourse never use it with babies).

There is always the possible risk (although very unlikely, but not impossible) that a fault in the blanket would cause it to electrocute you.

Title: can an electric blanket hurt you?
Post by: kdlynn on 01/10/2007 04:01:15

oh good. cuz i'm super cozy under here :)

Title: can an electric blanket hurt you?
Post by: kdlynn on 01/10/2007 04:08:29

between this on the couch and my down comforter, i may not have to turn the heater on this year! ha... wish me luck

Title: can an electric blanket hurt you?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 01/10/2007 22:45:03

If someone rolls it up very tight with a baseball bat inside & then whacks you round the head with it, yes it probably would hurt you.

Title: can an electric blanket hurt you?
Post by: Karen W. on 01/10/2007 22:50:16

I love my electric blanket but so far don't need it yet. It is just now getting colder outside we had rain for the last couple days . Today seems to be sunny and warm!

Title: can an electric blanket hurt you?
Post by: Andrew K Fletcher on 01/10/2007 23:03:16

I got burned quite badly by an electric blanket when I was young Geeze that was a long time ago. The sweat from my skin boiled causing it to burn my legs. never uesd one since, though I bet they are a lot better these days, hopefully that is.

Title: can an electric blanket hurt you?
Post by: kdlynn on 01/10/2007 23:09:12

i was afraid of that... hmmm

Title: can an electric blanket hurt you?
Post by: Karen W. on 01/10/2007 23:40:25

Kadie just turn it up before bed slide in and make sure you have a sheet between you and it! They are relatively safe.

Mine is body temperature adjusted so I turn it on hi, get in when my feet have been warmed and my body feels comfortable I turn the dial down until I hear a click which is where the blanket has basically taken my temperature and now will retain the comfortable temperature I like not heating me more then that and making its own adjustments when the room cools and maintaining my body temperature! YAYYYYYYYYYY! I luff it a lot!

Title: can an electric blanket hurt you?
Post by: Karen W. on 01/10/2007 23:41:21

Oh Yeah It has body sensors and sends heat to the places that are cold to heat them up to comfortable temp.

Title: can an electric blanket hurt you?
Post by: another_someone on 02/10/2007 00:13:55

Quote from: Andrew K Fletcher on 01/10/2007 23:03:16

I got burned quite badly by an electric blanket when I was young Geeze that was a long time ago. The sweat from my skin boiled causing it to burn my legs. never uesd one since, though I bet they are a lot better these days, hopefully that is.

Yes, I think modern ones have had to keep up with endless new regulations.  Lots of scare stories about older electric blankets I have heard about, but not about current ones.

Not that I use one myself, but my mother loves hers.

Title: can an electric blanket hurt you?
Post by: Bored chemist on 02/10/2007 20:01:02

A modern electric blanket is very unlikely to hurt you unless it lands on you from a considerable height. (They might not be a good idea for those with poor bladder control)

Title: can an electric blanket hurt you?
Post by: Karen W. on 02/10/2007 21:22:37

Why not???

Title: can an electric blanket hurt you?
Post by: Bored chemist on 03/10/2007 20:21:09

because what can loosely be described as water conducts electricity. You would hope they thought of that but it would be at best rather unpleasant to find out otherwise.

Title: can an electric blanket hurt you?
Post by: Karen W. on 03/10/2007 21:06:50

DUH! I never thought of that!

So don't drink anything in bed ..or loose control! LOL!

I do know that you can get problems tucking them in as this breaks the circuit wires and can cause a short which would make  things uncomfortable also!

Title: can an electric blanket hurt you?
Post by: kdlynn on 03/10/2007 21:18:47

or you could wake up with the wire wrapped around you... that seemed dangerous this morning

Title: can an electric blanket hurt you?
Post by: Karen W. on 03/10/2007 21:21:59

LOL did you have your blanky upside down! LOL

Title: can an electric blanket hurt you?
Post by: kdlynn on 04/10/2007 02:14:33

not when i went to sleep... who knows what happened after that

Title: can an electric blanket hurt you?
Post by: Karen W. on 07/10/2007 18:09:22

LOL LOL!! you must be an active sleeper my youngest is too!

Title: can an electric blanket hurt you?
Post by: garethjones on 25/04/2011 13:03:34

I love electric blanket. but dont have any experience like that...






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