Top critical review
1.0 out of 5 starsDON'T BUY THIS ITEM UNTIL/UNLESS YOU READ MY COMMENT THROUGH AND UNDERSTAND!
Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2023
10-23-2023
I saw this fire retardant blanket advertised online, and watched a video clip of it in action, used during a mock-up of a kitchen fire. It appeared to be a reasonable product and very simple to use. I planned to keep one available for both my own home's upstairs and downstairs. The package containing each blanket discloses only that the item is "made in China" and that it is "constructed with woven fiberglass."
I opened a single package for the first time to show my wife, preparing to demonstrate it to her, I pulled the blanket out of its plastic packaging, opened it to its full extent, laid it out on our first floor carpeting, and quickly smoothed it out, all with my bare hands. Immediately that I did as I describe, I felt innumerable pinprick sensations all over the palms and backs of both of my hands, as if I had clutched at a plant covered with tiny thorns. The last time I recall such an experience was decades ago, when I handled unpackaged insulating material in an attic with bare hands. But I stress that there is no "unpackaged" material visible here-- when one pulls the blanket out of its package, it appears to be a self-contained unit, completely enclosing its contents in an off-white material. Only then does one realize that the entire item, inside and out, appears to be fiberglass: All the way through and through, from its surface through to its interior to its underside. Nothing comes between your bare skin and the fiberglass surface, which sheds fiberglass particles embedding themselves in your flesh every moment you handle this material. The more you handle it, the more your skin stings, pains and itches. It feels a little like dozens of simultaneous tiny insect bites, on your palms, the backs of your hands and between the fingers.
I'm a physician, in particular a respiratory physician. Exposure to small particles of glass-like materials (otherwise termed silicates) is to be avoided not only for skin contact but also for airborne/inhalational contact. It has no beneficial purpose on your skin or in your lungs; quite the opposite.
I packed up the blanket, kept my wife far away from it, and vacuumed the carpet area where the blanket had been unfolded. I inspected the blanket closely before I put it away. I could not see any visible loose fibers with the naked eye or with a magnifying glass. I inspected my hands also-- again, the fibers are so tiny they were not visible. I washed my hands thoroughly with warm soapy water. That soothed most of the stinging. To be complete in the description, no rash developed then or later, and no bleeding occurred at any time. But also: I had occasion to leave my home later in the evening. The weather was cold and I wore weather-appropriate gloves while driving and walking to and from my car. I washed my hands again thoroughly that night before going to bed. I was also careful not to touch my wife with my bare hands.
The following morning almost all stinging and itching had resolved. But I noticed upon donning the cold weather gloves I wore the night before, a similar but milder experience occurred again-- stinging and itching. I have no doubt some of the fiberglass particles got out of my skin and were left behind in my gloves while I wore them.
Today is day #3 following the first exposure. I have no residual symptoms. My gloves feel fine.
To summarize:
1. I'm saying nothing about the fire retardant capacities of this item-- I've had no experience to test it for its stated use. I suspect it probably works exactly as advertised. I can say that nothing on the packaging that came with the item warns the user of any possible adverse effects such as I have described. I also want to say here that by identifying the site where the product was manufactured, I intend no political statement. Shoddy goods can come from anywhere.
2. I am saying also that it's not my intention to make a mountain out of a relatively small experience: No lasting damage seems to have occurred.
3. If you want to purchase this item, I advise you to wear appropriate gloves and avoid any other contact between the item and unprotected skin-- especially the face. Wearing a mask when using it is probably advisable. If you have the presence of mind to don a mask and gloves before using a fire retardant blanket during a home fire emergency, you are a cooler customer than I.
4. I plan to return the blankets I purchased to Amazon expecting a full refund. I suggest to Amazon that you drop this item completely and cease marketing it immediately. If you have current orders for it, at least advise your customers to read my comments here.
5. There must be a superior product for a comparable price available somewhere. No one should have this experience.
Respectfully,
George Goodman