Possible heating pad dangers

November 28, 2007 (WPVI) -- A family from South Jersey family is warning consumers about a popular household product.

They said a heating pad shocked their little boy and almost caught their bed on fire.

Four-year-old Giovanni Bonnicelli and his mom Janine were resting in bed. She was using a Sunbeam Health at Home Heating Pad.

"Our bed is kind of pushed against the wall. We sat up and we pushed against the heating pad," said Janine Bonnicelli of National Park. "I felt like a shock through my whole arm and my hand and then it just started throbbing and pulsing."

"It hurt and I cried," said Giovanni.

The Bonnicellis said they suffered minor burns and the heating pad sparked. Janine said she felt lucky it didn't start a fire.

"I thought 'Oh my God, me and my son could have just died.' After looking down at the bed, I saw the holes in the sheets," she said.

Product liability attorney George McLaughlin has been involved in close to 100 cases against Sunbeam in 11 years.

"I have with me today four different heating pads, all of which are clearly burned," he said as he showed us the pads.

McLaughlin said most of the cases have involved electric blankets or electric mattress covers, but recently he has been getting more heating pad claims.

He said he is now planning to file a lawsuit against Sunbeam on behalf of five clients who said they were burned as a result of defective heating pads that malfunctioned.

Heating pads fall under the jurisdiction of the Food and Drug Administration because they're considered medical devices.

The FDA said it has received more than 40 complaints - reports of adverse incidents - about Sunbeam heating pads since 2001.

Sunbeam told Action News that its products are safe if used properly and the company is investigating the Bonnicelli's complaint.

Sunbeam also said its heating pads carry clear warning labels and instructions. For instance, throw away any heating pad if the inner cover shows signs of deterioration and do not leave a heating pad on for more than 30 minutes at a time.

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consumer news, nydia han

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