Smoke alarm and heater advice was also given, as winter is setting in.
“Home Safety were alongside us to advise customers on the proper storage and handling of blankets and give other advice,” Oxtoby said.
Laser Electrical carried out a full examination of wiring, Oxtoby said.
“They made sure there were no kinks in the cords or any damage to the internal coil system.”
Morehu Bartlett, of Laser Electrical, said the blankets were first checked over visually to see if there were any defects or cracks in the case or the wire itself.
“We put it through our machine, which tests the insulation so that the wires inside aren’t touching, which could cause a short circuit,” Bartlett said.
Fitzies Bakery fed locals and workers throughout the day.
“If someone’s blankets didn’t pass, the cords were cut and blankets were disposed of appropriately,” Oxtoby said.
“Walk-ins signed a disclaimer form first before queueing for their blanket’s visual check.”
The testing event is annual, with last year’s called off due to Covid-19 precautions. The previous event in 2021 attracted around 100 people, with more than 700 blankets being tested.
This report was produced under the Public Interest Journalism initiative, funded by NZ on Air.
