The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
(c)1998-2002; (c)2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
All other sections in this Literature Study Guide are owned and copyrighted by BookRags, Inc.
The forerunner of the modern electric blanket was designed in 1912 by American physician Sidney Russell. In trying to devise an effective heating pad for his patients, Russell found that he could produce the desired heat by passing an electrical current through insulated metal tape that had been secured inside a blanket covering. It was not until the 1930s, however, that the electric blanket was commercially developed in the United States. Sometime earlier, in 1926, the British Ex-Services Mental Welfare Society acquired the rights to the Thermega Underblanket, but did not begin producing it until about the same time American manufacturers introduced electric blankets.
Safety was a major concern in electric blanket use. Research conducted during World War II on electrically heated uniforms for airplane pilots led to some safety improvements to electric blankets--most notably the addition of protective vinyl coverings for the electrical elements. In 1967, after a series of accidents, a U. S. company called Dreamland incorporated a monitoring system that cuts off electricity to the blanket if it overheats. In 1970, Britain's Thermega marketed a blanket that replaced the electrical elements with tubes carrying hot water.
Current (1998) research results on a possible relationship between electromagnetic fields and various cancers are uncertain, although prudence dictates taking reasonable precautions when using electric blankets. Although newer blankets have better shielding and use less electricity, heating the bed then unplugging the blanket for most of the night seems a sensible approach.