Millions of Americans use electric heated blankets every night for warmth and comfort — but the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns that a wave of defective electric heated blankets currently on the market poses a serious risk of fire and severe burn injuries. Non-compliant heated blankets — many sold on Amazon by Chinese manufacturers who have refused to cooperate with CPSC — have internal wire heating elements that can overheat and melt through the blanket fabric, creating a fire and burn hazard while the user is asleep and unaware.
What Makes a Heated Blanket Dangerous
A properly manufactured electric heated blanket has heating coils that operate within safe temperature ranges and shut off automatically if they overheat. Defective blankets fail these requirements in two primary ways:
- Overheating heating elements — the internal wires reach temperatures that melt through the polyester fabric, creating a fire hazard or direct burn risk to anyone in contact with the blanket
- Faulty controls — in some recalled models, the heating element can remain energized even after the blanket is turned off, due to a ground fault, posing a continuous fire and burn risk
These hazards are most dangerous because they occur while people are sleeping. A fire that starts in bedding while a person is asleep can become life-threatening before they wake.
Recently Recalled and Warning-Listed Electric Blankets
CPSC has issued recalls and safety warnings against multiple electric heated blanket brands in recent years, including:
- Melinora Electric Heated Blankets (gray polyester fleece, sold on Amazon by Leevana Inc.) — internal wire heating elements can overheat and melt through the fabric, posing fire and burn hazards; manufacturer has been unresponsive to CPSC recall requests
- Bedsure Electric Heating Blankets and Pads (models BS-LV0A, BS-HP1224, BS-HP2433, BS-HP2422, sold on Amazon) — controller can malfunction, posing fire and thermal burn hazards; approximately 350,000 units recalled
- InvoSpa Electric Throw Heated Blankets (sold on Amazon) — can overheat, posing fire and burn hazards; 26 reports of overheating received including burn injuries; approximately 21,000 units recalled
- Sunbeam Heated Blankets distributed by Star Elite — fire and burn hazards; recalled
What You Should Do
- Check SaferProducts.gov to verify whether your electric heated blanket has been recalled.
- Never use an electric heated blanket that shows signs of damage, frayed wires, scorch marks, or unusual heat.
- Never fold a heated blanket while it is in use, as folding can cause wires to overheat.
- Never use a heated blanket on an infant, toddler, or anyone who cannot remove it independently.
- Do not leave a heated blanket on while you are asleep — use it to warm the bed, then turn it off before sleeping.
- Purchase electric blankets only from established brands with verifiable safety certifications.
To report a dangerous electric blanket or a product-related injury, visit SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC’s Hotline at 800-638-2772.
