What Are the Temperature Range Limits of a Blanket Warmer?

• Blanket warmers are devices for raising the temperatures of blankets and are common in locations like hospitals and nursing homes. It is extremely important that blanket warmers be kept within appropriate temperature ranges so they do not catch on fire. No other object other than a blanket should be placed in a blanket warmer
  
  

Upper Limit

• Most blanket warmers have an upper temperature limit of 250 degrees F (121 degrees C by American National Standards Institute (ANSI) regulations. This is much lower than the temperature of a conventional clothing drier, which can reach temperatures as high as 347 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  
  

Blanket Danger

• Some employees may worry about heating a blanket above a certain temperature for patients. Since the limit is 250 degrees F and the ignition temperature of cotton is 482 degrees F, they need not worry about cotton blankets catching on fire.
  
  

Preferred Temperature

• In order to make blankets comfortable for patients, blankets should be kept warm in the blanket warmer at approximately 200 degrees F (93 degrees C). If blankets are less warm than this, they may give patients no perceivable benefit due to temperature dropping as soon as the blanket comes out from the warmer. This temperature poses no danger to either the handler or the patient.
  
  

Lowest Temperature

• The Enthermics Medical Systems company recommends warming blankets to between 150 and 200 degrees F (65 and 93 degrees C) to be the most successful at delivering comfort to patients.
  
  

Recommendation

• A study by the ECRI Institute contradicts the beliefs of some of the blanket warmer manufacturing companies. The study recommends keeping the temperature below 130 degrees F (54 degrees C) to prevent the risk of burns. Most facilities make their own choice as to what limit to heat the blankets in the blanket warmer.