Electric blankets.?

Question

In winter, I like using an electric blanket. But this particular blanket is doing strange things..

When my partner has the electric blanket switched on, (on her side of the bed) and I touch her skin, I feel a strange static/electrical feeling on the tips of my fingers. When I switch the blanket off ( at the wall), the sensation stops. My partner also feels this sensation when she touches my skin, while the electric blanket is on (on my side of the bed).

Does anyone know what this sensation is? My girlfriend is a little worried that we could get zapped. I have no idea though. I've slept in other beds with electric blankets on, and haven't felt this strange sensation before.

Any idea's what it is? Need we be worried?

Answer 1

Interesting... after doing some snooping, I found a few sources saying that the current in an electric blanket can induce a weak current in the human body, even if nothing is going wrong, so you probably don't have anything to worry about.  That said, I'm just some amateur on Yahoo!, and the tingling might not be too comfortable, so I'd recommend giving the manufacturer a call to see if they've had similar problems reported.  Until you get it fixed, you can always turn on the blanket shortly before bed to heat it up and then turn it off when you get in.