London - About 20 people die every year in the UK as a result of using old or damaged electric blankets, according to a report published today. The Consumer Affairs Minister, Dr Kim Howells, warned: "The Department of Trade and Industry's research shows that around 20 deaths and 5,000 fires which are dealt with in the home every year are caused by electric blankets more than 10 years old.
"So my message is simple - if your electric blanket is over 10 years old you should think very seriously about replacing it or at the very least getting it checked for safety as soon as possible."