Tempurpedic

Break out the electric blankets and the electric heating pads! Winter is here. But also be aware that with an increased use for these, safety must also be a priority.

Many fire hazards and accidents take place during the holidays because  of sheer carelessness and lack of awareness with handling heated mattress pads and blankets. To keep you and your family safe,  make sure that these are unplugged when not in use, to prevent fire from erupting in the bedroom. Also, avoid plugging the pads in sockets which are already full so as not to overload it. This may cause your electric current to spark and fire will ensue.

Colgate Classica mattress is a consistently high rated mattress among parents, and the company has released their new and special fire retardant mattress, conforming to the safety standards set by the state of California. Made from non-allergenic, waterproof and laminated foam and cover, the Classica Fire Safety mattress is 5″ in thickness but very lightweight. Babies and parents alike will love this product.

• Classica 1 crib mattress is light weight. Less than 20% of the weight of an average innerspring mattress. 6 pounds vs. 30 pounds for an innerspring crib mattress.
• Probably the firmest baby mattress available for cribs

Mattress manufacturers are made to comply with the recent guidelines for fire safety standards for mattresses, which took effect last July. But there are now reports coming out that fire-retardant mattresses may in fact be more harmful.

This recent expose from a local CBS station (Jim Osman of CBS I-Team) provides interview of mattress workers who are now suffering from different breathing problems and sinus problems, caused by the chemicals they use to manufacture fire-retardant mattresses at Simmons. The company on the other hand hired independent testers and  found no toxic materials in the mattresses.

This is a press release from the CPSC or the US Consumer Product Safety Commission:

Mattresses manufactured in or imported into the United States on or after July 1, 2007 must meet the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) flammability standard. The mandatory standard is designed to reduce the severity of mattress fires ignited by open flame sources such as candles, matches and lighters.CPSC estimates that, once fully effective, the new federal flammability standard will prevent as many as 270 deaths and 1,330 injuries every year.

CPSC Acting Chairman Nancy Nord calls the new standard an important layer of fire protection in the home.

Violet Township Fire Department, based in Ohio, took three kinds of mattresses out for testing — one made in 2002, another made after the revised July 2007 mattress standard implementation; and still another with a product called Fire Defender mixed into the material. The result?

The fire did not appear to penetrate the new mattress at about 7 minutes into the fire. The one with the protective cover also contained the flames. At about nine minutes, flames leaping from the old mattress were almost out of control

It would be very good to know these things. It’s for your family’s safety and protection.