Electric Heating Pads
Twenty years of CPSC NEISS emergency-room records for this consumer product category, combined with demographic breakdowns, multi-year injury trends, and matching recall notices.
Laundry & Household Appliances · CPSC Code 110
Down 23% over 5 years
The verdict
Electric Heating Pads carry a danger score of 37/100 (low risk), driven by roughly 2,685 ER-treated injuries a year that are declining by about 23% over the last five years.
- 37/100
- danger score (low risk)
- 2,685
- ER visits per year (avg)
- 11.1%
- end in hospital admission
- 55-64
- most-injured age group
Every figure is rendered from the CPSC NEISS record for product code 110 - last data year 2024.
PlainSafety danger score
How this 37/100 score is built
The score is computed from four CPSC-derived factors for electric heating pads - no opinion, no editorializing:
- Injury volume2,685 ER visits/yr
- Severity (hospitalization rate)11.1%
- Fatality rate0.00%
- 5-year trend-23%
See the full methodology for the exact weighting of each factor.
What the CPSC Data Shows
Electric Heating Pads (CPSC product code 110, in the Laundry & Household Appliances category) generate an estimated 2,685 emergency-room visits every year in the United States, adding up to roughly 53,702 ER-treated injuries across the 20-year span from 2005 to 2024. PlainSafety derives a danger score of 37/100 for this category (low risk), combining raw injury volume, demographic reach, severity of outcome, and multi-year trend. The five-year trajectory shows that injury counts are declining by about 23% over the last five years, with the busiest year on record being 2010 (4,006 estimated ER visits) and the quietest 2020 (2,003 estimated visits).
The single most common ER diagnosis for electric heating pads is burns, thermal to the lower trunk, accounting for approximately 19,299 visits across the 20-year NEISS window, followed by burns, thermal to the upper trunk (8,432 cases). The 55-64 age group absorbs the largest share of injuries, about 10,186 cases over the NEISS window, and females appear slightly more often than the opposite sex in that cohort. Severity outcomes from the NEISS disposition field show that 11.1% of ER visits involving this product end in hospital admission or transfer.
Beyond the hospital-sampled NEISS projections, this page also aggregates 61 consumer incident reports filed directly on SaferProducts.gov, plus 20 anonymized ER narratives - together forming a layered picture of how electric heating pads fail in real households. Every figure on this page comes from CPSC-published data: NEISS projects national estimates from a probability sample of about 100 U.S. hospital emergency departments, while SaferProducts.gov collects voluntary reports from consumers, manufacturers, and clinicians. The danger score, trend indicators, and demographic breakdowns update automatically when CPSC releases a new yearly NEISS file, which is why this page is dated 2024-12-31. For regulatory context, consult CPSC recall notices and the SaferProducts.gov public database linked below.
Annual Injury Estimates (2005–2024)
Source: CPSC NEISS national estimates CPSC NEISS national estimates Injuries represent ER-treated cases only
Who Gets Injured?
| Age Group | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 150 | 32 | |
| 5-14 | 235 | 261 | |
| 15-24 | 362 | 2,160 | |
| 25-34 | 1,144 | 3,972 | |
| 35-44 | 1,737 | 5,464 | |
| 45-54 | 2,743 | 6,860 | |
| 55-64 | 3,252 | 6,934 | |
| 65-74 | 3,114 | 5,221 | |
| 75+ | 3,663 | 6,407 |
Most Common Injuries
| Body Part | Diagnosis | Est. Injuries |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Trunk | Burns, Thermal | |
| Upper Trunk | Burns, Thermal | |
| Upper Leg | Burns, Thermal | |
| Lower Leg | Burns, Thermal | |
| Lower Trunk | Other | |
| Foot | Burns, Thermal | |
| Shoulder | Burns, Thermal | |
| Neck | Burns, Thermal | |
| Lower Leg | Other | |
| Lower Arm | Burns, Thermal | |
| Knee | Burns, Thermal | |
| Upper Trunk | Derma/conjunct | |
| Upper Arm | Burns, Thermal | |
| Lower Trunk | Strain, Sprain | |
| Lower Trunk | Derma/conjunct |
Severity Breakdown
ER Visit Narratives
Real anonymized emergency room reports from the CPSC NEISS database.
44YOM WAS USING A HEATING PAD OVER THE WEEKEND. WHEN HE WOKE UP THIS MORNING HE DID FEEL A BLISTER OVER THE AREA. HE HAS SPINA BIFIDA AND HAS DECREASED SENSATION TO BUTTOCK AREA. DX: BURN BACK BUTTOCK SECOND DEGREE, BURN OF FIRST DEGREE OF BUTTOCK, TETHERED SPINAL CORD SYNDROME
25YOF BURN TO CHEST FALLING ASLEEP WITH HEATING PAD ON DX CELLULITIS CHEST
87YOF PRESENTS TODAY FOR FALL. PT REPORTS THAT SHE TRIPPED OVER A CORD FROM HER HEATING PAD. SHSE FELL ON HER LEFT SIDE. SHE HAS NOT BEEN ABLEA TO BEAR WEIGHT ON THE LEFT SIDE. SHE DENIES HEAD STRIKE. OCCURRED AT HOME. DX: LEFT HIP FRACTURE
51YOM COMES TO THE ER WITH BACK PAIN. HE STATES THE PAIN STARTED ON THURSDAY, IS ON THE LEFT SIDE AND RADIATES DOWN HIS BUTTOCKS INTO HIS THIGH. HE DENIES TRAUMA TO THE BACK AS THE RESULT OF AN INJURY. EXAM SHOWS A SKIN BURN OVER THE BUTTOCKS FROM A HEATING PAD THAT HE USED FOR THE PAIN. DX: PAIN BACK LUMBAR
70YOF TAKES *** FOR ATRIAL FIBRILLATION AND HAD A MECHANICAL TRIP AND FALL OVER A HEATING PAD CORD AND FELL STRIKING HEAD ON THE DRESSER DX: CLOSED HEAD INJURY; ON APIXABAN THERAPY
77 YOM WITH RIGHT CALF PAIN X 3 DAYS WITH SWELLING. STARTED AFTER HE WAS GARDENING. ALSO NOTED TO HAVE A BURN OVER HIS RIGHT ANTERIOR LEG THAT HE STATES IS FROM THE HEATING PAD THAT HE LEFT ON TO HELP WITH THE PAIN FOR TOO LONG. DX ACUTE PAIN RIGHT LOWER EXTREMITY, PARTIAL THICKNESS BURN RIGHT LOWER LEG
71YOF GOT WRAPPED UP IN CORD OF HEATING PAD AND FELL TO THE FLOOR DX:FRACTURED LEFT HUMEROUS
71 YOF BLISTERS TO L FOOT USING HEATING PAD DX; 2ND DEGREE BURNS
26 YOF HAD A HEATING PAD ON HER LEFT THIGH AND FELT A STINGING SENSATION. DX: SUPERFICIAL BURN OF LEFT THIGH
74 YOF HAD A HEATING PAD ON HER ABDOMEN FOR AN UNCLEAR AMOUNT OF TIME AND WAS FOUND WITH ERYTHEMA AND BLISTERS WITH CONCERN FOR BURNS. DX: PARTIAL THICKNESS BURN OF ABDOMINAL WALL
17YOF APPLIED AN ELECTRIC HEATING PAD TO BUTTOCKS TO TRY TO RELIEVE PRESSURE FROM A CYST AND HAD IT ON THERE TOO LONG AND NOW THERE IS A BURN DX: PARTIAL THICKNESS BURN TO BUTTOCKS
62YOM TO ER FOR LOWER BACK PAIN ONSET SUNDAY, PT SAYS WAS THEN USING HEATING PAD FOR BACK PAIN & BURNED LOWER BACK, OPENED BLISTERED W/ ERYTHEMA TO BASE OF LOWER BACK DX BILATERAL LOW BACK PAIN W/O SCIATICA, SUPERFICIAL BURN OF LOWER BACK
Consumer Incident Reports
Reports filed by consumers on SaferProducts.gov.
Electric heated pad ignited and caused thirddegree burns to my arm/hand and set bedding on fire.
The product was a heating pad. The temperature control unit began to melt. It was being used by my wife who is an invalid. The heating pad was on her lap, with the control off to the side. No injuries occurred before we noticed the problem. We have had 3 of this product. The first lasted more than a year, but eventually, the power cord frayed at the entrance to the control. We purchased a second of the same brand, but the power control failed after several months. The item was replaced by the seller under warranty, but this is the one in which the power using case melted.
Wireless heating pad caused burn marks and blisters when used as directed. Other people who purchased the same product have reported in reviews pictures of proof of burns.
I was using the heating pad on my lower back. I have 3rd degree burns from the heating pad getting extremely hot.
Electric mattress pad got hot enough at a single point to burn a hole in the mattress covering below it and the fitted bottom sheet above it. We don't know if it actually caused a flame, but there was charring on both the fitted sheet and the mattress cover. We did not witness the event, just the damage it caused when we later felt a "tear" in the fitted sheet which, upon inspection, was a burn not a tear.
I was using an electric heating pad I purchased from Amazon. The product was set to run with a timer function, which I assumed would automatically shut it off after the set time. However, it did not turn off when the timer expired and continued to heat excessively. While I was sleeping, the device overheated and burned through my body pillow, creating a scorched area and strong smell that woke me up. When I reached for the pad to shut it off, I suffered a burn to my hand from direct contact with the overheated surface. This could have easily caused a house fire if I had not noticed in time. I was using the product as intendedlying down with the heating pad resting on top of my body pillow for warmth and comfort, with the timer set. I was the only one using the product at the time. There were clear injuries to me personally (burn to my hand), as well as significant damage to my bedding. The failure of the products automatic shut-off is what directly led to the injury and fire risk. I believe this product is defective and presents a serious safety hazard.
Queen size electric heating mattress pad by Perfect Fit industries, llC developed a broken wire and scorched the mattress. Fire fortunately did not occur, but mattress was damaged. Pad was on bed belonging to [REDACTED] at their private residence. The pad was used nights to warm the bed before and sometimes during sleep. Possible injuries include inhalation of gases given off during the scorching of mattress materials.
Cover of the control of heating pad separated, exposing parts and leading to a small burn. Once separated, the control panel could not be snapped or otherwise fitted into place.
Showing 8 of 61 reports.
Product Recalls
Search for active and past recalls related to electric heating pads on the CPSC website.
Frequently Asked Questions
How dangerous are electric heating pads?
Based on 20 years of CPSC data, electric heating pads have a danger score of 37/100 (low risk). An estimated 2,685 ER-treated injuries occur annually in the U.S. related to this product category.
What are the most common injuries from electric heating pads?
The most common injury is burns, thermal to the lower trunk, accounting for approximately 19,299 injuries over 20 years.
Are injuries from electric heating pads increasing or decreasing?
Down 23% over 5 years.
Who is most at risk for electric heating pads injuries?
The 55-64 age group accounts for the most injuries, with approximately 10,186 cases recorded over 20 years. Females are more frequently injured in this age group.
What happens when someone is injured by electric heating pads?
Of all ER visits involving electric heating pads, approximately 11.1% result in hospital admission. The majority of patients (89.0%) are treated and released from the emergency department.
How can I report a safety problem with electric heating pads?
You can file a consumer incident report at SaferProducts.gov, the official CPSC reporting portal. Reports help the CPSC identify emerging hazards and trigger investigations or recalls. You can also call the CPSC hotline at 1-800-638-2772.
Related Products in Laundry & Household Appliances
Safety Guides
What this means for you
Treat the 37/100 score as relative risk between products, not your personal odds of injury.
- See where this category ranks against every other tracked product. Full rankings
- Injuries cluster in the 55-64 age group, take extra care if that describes your household.
- Check for active recalls on this product before you assume it is safe. CPSC recalls
NEISS estimates ER-treated injuries from a national probability sample of hospitals; they do not capture injuries treated elsewhere or not treated at all.
Data: CPSC National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) 2005–2024 and SaferProducts.gov consumer incident reports. Injury estimates are based on a nationally representative probability sample of U.S. hospital emergency departments. This page is for informational purposes only and is not affiliated with the CPSC.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, scored, and verified.
