Published
The Queensland Office of Fair Trading is warning Queenslanders to be vigilant with their use of wheat bags and heat packs through not only the final month of winter, but all year round.
The alert comes on the heels of two fires in NSW over the past fortnight being caused by heat packs catching alight.
Office of Fair Trading Product Safety Manager Dave Strachan said it was important for consumers to follow instructions regarding the use of wheat bags and heat packs.
Wheat and other grain products are combustible at high temperatures, and if grain-filled heat packs are used incorrectly, it can ignite and start a fire. In the latest incident in NSW, a consumer heated her heat pack in a microwave for 20 minutes.
Mr Strachan said that wheat bags and other heat pack products should never be used to warm beds or be placed in spaces where heat cannot escape.
He re-iterated the standard tips for the use of wheat bags:
- Make sure the wheat bag or heat pack you buy comes with instructions. Follow them carefully, especially when heating. Wheat bags can easily overheat in microwaves causing them to ignite.
- Don’t leave the wheat bag or heat pack unsupervised in the microwave.
- When heating a wheat bag in a microwave, always place a ¾ full glass of water next to it. This ensures the bag doesn’t dry out and overheat.
- Don’t reheat or store a wheat bag until it’s properly cooled.
- Only use wheat bags for direct application to body aches and pains – they should not be used as bed warmer.
- Regularly check your wheat bag for signs of wear and tear or scorching. With age the fillings dry out and become combustible.
Contact details
You can contact QLD OFT media team directly if you:
- are a journalist or media representative
- work for a newspaper (print or online), magazine, radio or television outlet
- are producing a commissioned article.
The media team does not take enquiries from the general public.
Members of the public can contact QLD OFT here.