Family Dollar, Inc. has agreed to pay a $100,000 civil penalty to the Consumer Product Safety Commission to settle allegations that they failed to report defects in their electric blanket products.
The allegation is that Family Dollar knowingly failed to report in a timely manner the potential for the electric blankets to overheat and catch on fire.
The chain of stores sold around 9,000 of these potentially hazardous blankets between November, 03 and February, 04, before ceasing to sell the blankets. During this spam of time, Family Dollar received 40 or more reports of blanket malfunctions including: fire, scorching, and smoke damage. There were 9 reports of injury, consisting mainly of burns.
These blankets were manufactured by Bilt-Safe Technologies Inc., of Erwin, Tennessee, also known as International Home Fashions, Inc. For more information about the potentially flammable heated blankets, contact Bilt-Safe Technologies at (800-905-0799.
When calling “Bilt-Safe” Don’t forget to suggest a name change.
Electric blankets have been causing fires since they went on the Market years ago. Why is the CPSC picking on Family Dollar when the various Mfgs of these products have received back from consumers as warranty returns thousands of burned blankets?
I purchased an electric blanket as my body will not stay warm at night under normal conditions. Is the electric blanket, whomever manufactures it, unsafe?? What do our astronauts use to keep warm? Is this a matter of cost over safety? Is there nothing I can use to keep me warm, other than another body?