Woman’s warning after 20-year hairdryer habit goes wrong
Staying warm when the temperature drops can be a tricky task, with many reaching for electric mattress toppers, blankets, fluffy bed socks, or even succumbing to turning the heating on.
However, for one woman, when she put her hair dryer on her bed and allowed it to run while she became sleepy, it wasn’t because she wanted her sheets warming up, although some people do this.
It was because she struggles to get to sleep without the sound of the hair dryer buzzing pleasantly in the background. However, despite using this method for decades, things did not go to plan the other evening.
She has since issued a warning to others to ensure that they do not make the same mistake as her, regardless of the reason they decide to switch the hair dryer on at night.
Sadie Baird shared the warning on Facebook, starting off by saying: “I know a lot of people do it, and you never think it’s going to happen to you. So I was nearly on fire last night”.
She shared a disturbing picture of her Christmas bedding, which was all singed, and the edges were blackened, as though a fire had started and had to be promptly put out.
Sadie explained: “Been struggling to sleep for days and I don’t know why, but the hair dryer (the sound done it all my life) makes me sleepy, so I normally turn it on for ten mins and turn it off.”
However, she fell asleep while doing it and “woke up to this” dangerous situation. She nearly burned her hair and her neck was “a bit sore” as a result.
Sadie added: “Scary wasn’t the word.” In the comments, she continued to defend herself, writing: “I’m not a moron it’s just something I’ve done for 20 odd years and NEVER had a problem I’ve always turned it off an it was always blowing cool, BUT as they say NEVER say NEVER scary and lesson learnt It’s hard because I need the sound of the hairdryer and the sound of the wind in my ear, I dunno it’s so hard to explain”.
In the comments section, people were quick to reassure Sadie for the mistake. They said it’s something they’ve tried in the past – but will stop now after seeing the dangers.
Somebody wrote: “You are not alone! I’m currently sitting with the hair dryer on! Although I’m not in bed with it at the moment, like normal. We have a fan in our room, but I’m yet to find a sound on YouTube, etc, that sounds remotely like a hair dryer. I’ve even tried noise machines that you buy for your babies, all 3 of my children have different ones because I bought a new one for each baby, hoping I would find the right sound, but still nothing”.
In response, a man advised: “Lol, pretty silly, however, I reckon you’ve learnt from that one. Search hairdryer noises on YouTube next time”.
Meanwhile, another recommended: “I got a Sleep headband and listen to thunderstorms from Spotify. If you need the wind (like I do), get a small rechargeable fan on your bedside table aimed at your face. You get to sleep comfortably, AND you don’t set yourself on fire”.
That definitely sounds like the safer option to us!
Why is it so dangerous to put a hot hair dryer on a bed?
A hairdryer can set bed sheets on fire due to extreme heat generation and the highly combustible nature of bedding materials.
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service say: “Please take care when using hairdryers or other tools like straighteners, once you’ve finished with them, remember to unplug them at the mains and let them cool on a non-flammable surface”.
