Are Electric Blankets Safe for Someone With Dementia?

An electric blanket can be a real comfort to someone with dementia on a cold night, but it carries a risk that ordinary households do not face. North Wales Fire and Rescue Service warns that electric blankets can be dangerous for people with impaired memory, because overheating can cause a fire¹. The same service says electric blankets are one of the leading causes of bedroom fires, particularly for older people².

The core problem is that a person with dementia may not remember the blanket is on, may lie on top of it, may fold it or cover it, or may not recognise the smell of overheating. Fire services report that electric blankets cause hundreds of fires a year³, and that fires caused by electrical appliances and electric blankets have the highest rate of injury, with 440 injuries for every 1,000 fires⁴.

That does not mean the blanket must go. It means the decision needs to be made with the risks in view, and the checks and alternatives below put in place. If you are supporting someone with dementia more broadly, our guide to dementia and emergencies covers the wider picture.

Electric blankets can cause a fire for someone with memory problems

The danger is not that the blanket is faulty in every case. It is that the person using it cannot reliably manage it. Dementia is a substantial factor in increasing the risk of injury or death from fire in the home, according to Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service⁹. That service's Home Fire Safety Advisors have attended dementia awareness sessions so they understand the different types of dementia and the signs to watch for⁹.

The specific fire risks that dementia creates include leaving cooking unattended, misunderstanding the sound of a smoke detector and not taking appropriate action, and not recognising the property they live in, which reduces their ability to get out safely and in time¹⁰. An electric blanket adds a heat source close to the body and to bedding, in the room where the person is least supervised.

Surrey County Council lists people with mental health issues including dementia and memory loss among those more at risk from fire¹¹. The risk is compounded at night, when the person is asleep or drowsy and no one is watching.

Why overheating is the main risk

Overheating is the mechanism behind most electric blanket fires, and it can happen in several ways. The blanket's own heating element can fail. The cable can fray. The blanket can be folded, creased or covered so heat cannot escape. Or it can be left on far longer than intended.

Product safety notices show how this plays out in practice. A recall of the B&Q GoodHome Saturnia Electric Blanket in December 2025 warned of a risk of fire and electric shock because an electric component can overheat, and that this could result in the product or the surrounding furniture overheating and catching fire¹². A safety report on Dunelm Warm and Cosy Electric Blanket Cables in July 2026 found a risk of fire because the copper wire within the cable can fray, which may cause localised overheating and fire during normal use¹³.

Other recalls tell the same story. Hamilton McBride Single, Double and King Size Electric Blankets were recalled in October 2024 because the heating element can overheat, which could result in the blanket catching fire or burning users¹⁴. The Snuggla King Size Electric Blanket was recalled in February 2025 as it may overheat while in use, with a serious risk of fire and burns¹⁵. The Online Home Shop Electric Heated Blanket was recalled in April 2023 as a serious risk of fire that may not meet electrical safety regulations, and it may also pose a risk of electric shock¹⁶.

For a household without memory problems, a blanket left on is a nuisance. For someone with dementia, it can be a fire they do not notice until it is well established.

If you still use one: the checks to make

If you decide to keep using an electric blanket, the checks below are the minimum. They are drawn from fire and rescue service guidance and should be repeated at the start of each winter and whenever the blanket has been stored.

• Check it regularly for wear and damage¹⁸. Look for the danger signs listed by Warwickshire County Council: scorch marks, fraying fabric, exposed elements, creasing or folding, soiling, damp patches, damaged or missing tie tapes, worn flex, loose connections, and old BEAB safety marks. If you see any of these, have the blanket checked or replaced³.
• Consider replacing a blanket over 10 years old. The Electrical Safety Council recommends that if your blanket is over 10 years old you should consider disposing of it safely and buying a new one⁷.
• Do not buy second-hand. Suffolk's fire safety guidance advises trying not to buy second-hand blankets and checking regularly for wear and tear¹⁹.
• Never use it wet or damp, and never switch it on to dry it out⁷.
• Turn it off and store it flat, not rolled up, when not in use⁴.
• Never use it with a hot water bottle⁴.
• Unplug it before getting into bed, unless it has a thermostat control designed for safe all-night use⁵.
• Contact the manufacturer if in doubt about its safety²⁰.

If you are unsure whether a blanket is safe, many fire and rescue services run free electric blanket testing. Oxfordshire County Council, for example, ran electric blanket safety check locations in September and October 2026, with advice from the fire and rescue service, Trading Standards, Age UK, the district councils and Public Health England²¹. Norfolk County Council's winter guidance points people to Electrical Safety First for electric blanket advice²².

Safer ways to keep someone with dementia warm at night

For many households, the safer answer is to warm the bed before the person gets in, then switch the blanket off and unplug it. That gives the comfort of a warm bed without leaving a heat source on through the night.

Norfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care Board acknowledges that electric blankets and portable heaters can be a great way to stay warm, but says it is important that they are used safely²³. The same principle applies to any heat source: it is the unattended, forgotten or covered heat source that causes trouble.

Other ways to keep warm at night, drawn from official guidance:

• Layered clothing and blankets. The government's power cut guidance advises keeping warm by using blankets and layered clothing, keeping doors of unused rooms closed and closing curtains to keep the heat in²⁴.
• A hot water bottle, used on its own. NHS guidance says you can use a hot water bottle or an electric blanket, but not both at the same time, to keep warm while you are in bed²⁵. Belfast City Council's winter guidance makes the same point: an electric blanket can be dangerous if left on overnight unless it has a safe all-night setting, and should never be used with a hot water bottle²⁶.
• Keep the room warm rather than the bed. Cumberland Council's keeping warm guidance advises avoiding using an electric blanket with a hot water bottle to prevent the risk of electrocution⁶. Northern Ireland's nidirect service gives the same warning²⁷.
• A blanket in the emergency kit. Scotland's Ready Scotland guidance includes blankets in the home emergency kit²⁸, which is useful if the heating fails.

Where to get fire safety help for someone with dementia

You do not have to work this out alone. Fire and rescue services across the UK offer free home fire safety visits, and many tailor them to people with dementia and their carers.

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service says that if you or someone you know has dementia, they can visit and make the home as safe as possible¹. Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service's Home Safety Visit request form allows you to specify if the person has an impairment that may mean they need specialist fire or smoke detection and alarm equipment, which can be fitted free of charge¹⁰. London Fire Brigade says it even fits free smoke alarms if the person you care for needs them²⁹.

Some services go further. North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service's enhanced visits include advice about health and wellbeing, including support on giving up smoking, avoiding falls, keeping the home warm and living with dementia³⁰. Its standard visits can also give advice on where to find support with those things³¹. London Fire Brigade offers free sessions for carers and the person they care for, to talk about how to prevent fires³².

A home fire safety visit can also pick up on other risks. One customer with hearing aids was given equipment that would wake him if there was a fire when he takes his hearing aid out at night, plus a blanket⁸.

To arrange help:

• Contact your local fire and rescue service and ask for a home fire safety visit. Say that the person has dementia and that you are their carer.
• Ask about specialist alarms if the person has hearing or sight loss, or would not wake to a standard alarm.
• Ask an occupational therapist about wider home safety. North Wales Fire and Rescue Service says you can contact one through your doctor's surgery or through social services¹.
• Never leave lit candles unattended¹. If the person uses candles, consider battery-powered lights instead; our guide to emergency lighting explains the options.

If you are arranging support more widely, our pages on fire risk for older and disabled people and how to refer a vulnerable person for a fire safety check go into more detail. For the person who may go missing, see what to do if the person you care for goes missing.