Free electric blanket checks return across Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire residents can book a free electric blanket safety check at locations across the county from Monday 21 September to Friday 9 October. The inspections are open to residents, but appointments must be reserved in advance; the full venue address and a specific slot will be supplied when booking.

The Free Electric Blanket Safety Checks are being organised by Oxfordshire County Council ahead of winter. Sessions will visit Thame, Oxford, Banbury, Chipping Norton, Abingdon, Didcot, Bicester, Witney and Wantage.

Ten inspection dates across Oxfordshire

The programme begins in Thame on 21 September and concludes in Wantage on 9 October. No public opening times have been announced because each resident receives an individual time slot after booking.

The council has not published the specific venue addresses. Those details, together with the appointment time, will be given directly to each person whose booking is confirmed.

More than one in three blankets failed last year

The inspection programme is intended to identify electric blankets and throws that could pose an injury or fire risk as their condition deteriorates. A blanket does not have to be old to fail: the council says even relatively new products can be rejected during a safety assessment.

Last year, inspectors tested 920 electric blankets at the county’s events. Of those, 338 failed the assessment, giving a failure rate of 36.7 per cent. The council said that proportion had increased compared with the previous year, although it did not provide the earlier figure.

Councillor Kate Gregory, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Inequalities, said the service has been offered free to residents for 26 years. She encouraged people to arrange a regular test rather than assume a blanket or throw remains safe because it appears new.

The timing gives residents an opportunity to have equipment assessed before it returns to regular winter use. The council has warned that the annual sessions are usually popular, so an advance reservation is required to guarantee an inspection.

How to reserve a free safety check

Appointments can be requested by calling 01865 895999 and selecting option three, or by emailing [email protected]. There is no charge for the assessment.

Residents should choose from the ten listed locations when arranging their appointment. Public transport guidance and accessibility information have not been provided, so anyone who needs specific access details should raise this when booking.

The confirmed address and appointment slot will be issued by Oxfordshire County Council after the reservation is made.

Source: Oxfordshire County Council News