Indian Railways is one of the largest railway systems in the world. Lakhs of passengers use trains daily. Blankets are provided in the AC class of railways to make passengers comfortable during the journey, but a recent reply from the Railways has worried the passengers. In response to an RTI (RTI Shocking Reveal), the Railways informed that the blankets used in the train are washed only once a month. However, the Railways also said that they try to keep the blankets clean (Railway Blanket Cleaning), but the large number of passengers and washing woolen blankets after every use makes it very difficult.

Although it is true that washing blankets after every use can be a big hassle, it can cause many health related problems. We will try to know about this here. Let us know what effect can the use of unwashed blankets have on health.

Why is this a cause for concern?

• Spread of bacteria and viruses- Bacteria and viruses grow rapidly on blankets that are used repeatedly. These bacteria and viruses can cause skin diseases, respiratory problems and other serious illnesses.
• Allergies- Dust mites, pollen and other allergens tend to accumulate in blankets. This can cause breathing problems for allergy sufferers and can cause problems like coughing, sneezing and itchy eyes.
• Skin diseases- It is not known who has used the blanket and what their skin condition was. In such a situation, an infected blanket can cause skin itching, rashes and other skin diseases.
• Smell- Blankets that are used repeatedly start to smell, which can be quite uncomfortable for passengers. Blankets can get smelly due to people's sweat etc.
• Problems for asthma patients - Dust and other allergens that accumulate in blankets can cause breathing problems, especially for asthma patients . Asthma patients can have a lot of trouble due to dust. Even normal people can have problems like nasal congestion and cough.
• Elderly people and children are at greater risk- Elderly people and small children may face more problems due to the bacteria and dust accumulated in blankets.

What can we do to avoid this?

Before using the railway blanket, cover yourself with a thick sheet and then cover yourself with the blanket. This will ensure that the dirt on the blanket remains on the sheet and the risk of infection or allergy is greatly reduced. Therefore, try not to cover yourself with the blanket directly. If convenient, passengers can bring their own blanket or something to cover themselves with.