An electric blanket, just like any electric appliance, can malfunction. A control could work improperly, the blanket could become bunched up causing overheating or a heater wire could break. Also, a small child may not understand the right way to use the controls. There is also a concern about electric blankets putting out electric and magnetic fields. The evidence is still out on whether EMFs cause cancer or not, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. For these reasons, small children should not use an electric blanket.

On the Other: Electric Blankets Provide Extra Warmth

As of 2009, the number of electric blankets and electric mattress pads sold is 4.5 million a year. Electric blankets allow people to stay warm in a cold room without having to use heavy blankets and comforters. Many older children enjoy using electric blankets.

Bottom Line

Electric blankets can be a good choice for people who understand how to properly use them. Children who cannot understand about the controls, or what to do to avoid being burned, should not use them. Older children who understand the safety issues can enjoy the warming benefits of an electric blanket. Blankets make after 1992 have less EMFs. Another strategy to avoid EMF exposure is to turn on the blanket prior to getting in bed and turning if off when you get in.

Source:

The Electric Blanket Institute

EPA.gov: Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMF) Radiation from Power Lines

Resource:

National Cancer Institute: Magnetic Field Exposure and Cancer