Hospital Blankets: Cellular and Other Types Compared

Cellular blankets are the classic hospital blanket: an open, honeycomb-like weave, usually in cotton, that is light, breathable and warm when layered. They suit air-conditioned UAE wards well because patients who feel cold can add a layer and those who run warm do not overheat. Heavier woven or fleece-type blankets have uses too, but anything you buy must stand up to your hospital laundry process and meet your facility's fire-safety requirements.

This post explains the main blanket types, how they compare and what to specify.

Why blankets matter in UAE hospitals

It is easy to assume blankets are a minor item in a hot country. In practice, UAE hospitals are air-conditioned, often strongly, and patients lie still for long periods, sometimes after anaesthesia or with conditions that make them feel cold. Outpatients waiting on couches, patients in recovery and those in imaging rooms may also ask for a blanket.

So most wards need a blanket that can provide some warmth without becoming too hot, can be added or removed easily, and can be laundered as often as the sheets.

Cellular blankets

A cellular blanket has a weave with regular openings that form many small "cells". Manufacturers describe these cells as trapping warm air close to the body when the blanket is layered with other bedding, while letting excess heat escape when the patient is warm. That combination is why cellular blankets have long been common in hospitals and care settings.

Strengths

• Light to handle and quick to change
• Breathable, which helps patients who overheat
• Can be layered: one blanket for light warmth, two or a blanket under a bed cover for more
• Cotton versions are generally suited to hot washing; ask your supplier to confirm against your laundry process
• Dry faster than heavy, dense blankets

Limitations

• On its own, a single cellular blanket may not be warm enough for a cold patient
• The open weave can catch on rings, watches and equipment
• Edges and openings can wear or snag over time, so hem and binding quality matter

Other blanket types

Type	Typical fibre	Warmth	Laundry behaviour	Common use
Cellular (open weave)	Cotton, sometimes polyester	Light, good when layered	Generally easy, dries fairly quickly	General wards, recovery, paediatrics
Woven flat blanket	Cotton or blend	Moderate	Heavier to wash and dry	Long-stay wards, extra warmth
Thermal or fleece-type	Usually polyester	Warmer for its weight	Check heat tolerance carefully	Waiting areas, transport, some long-stay settings
Bed cover or bedspread used as a top layer	Cotton or poly-cotton	Light	Varies	Appearance and light warmth; see hospital bed covers

Synthetic blankets can be warm and light, but some synthetic fibres are sensitive to high temperatures in washing and drying. If your infection-control policy requires particular wash temperatures, check with the supplier and wash-test a sample before buying. The background to wash temperatures is covered in hospital laundry temperatures.

Fire safety and specialist areas

Blankets are part of the bedding that your fire-safety team considers. Some facilities and areas have specific requirements for flammability performance of bedding and textiles. Do not assume any blanket meets those requirements unless the supplier provides documentation for the specific fabric. If your facility has such a requirement, state it in the specification and ask for evidence in the quotation.

Similarly, in neonatal and paediatric areas, how blankets are used with infants and children is a clinical safety question. Follow your clinical team's safe sleep and bedding policies; the linen specification should support their decisions, not set them.

Sizing blankets

Blankets do not need to tuck in as deeply as sheets, but they should cover the patient comfortably on your beds.

1. Measure the bed and mattress length, width and depth.
2. Decide whether the blanket should tuck in, hang over the sides or lie on top only.
3. Allow for shrinkage, which can be noticeable on cotton blankets in early washes.
4. Specify separate sizes for cots, paediatric beds and bariatric beds where needed.
5. Confirm the finished size on a wash-tested sample.

A blanket that is too small leaves feet or shoulders exposed and gets pulled around. One that is too large adds weight to the laundry and can trail on the floor.

Colour and appearance

Blankets are one place where many hospitals use colour. A coloured blanket can:

• Brighten a ward and make rooms feel less clinical
• Identify ward or department ownership in the laundry
• Distinguish paediatric or maternity linen

White blankets show stains clearly, which some infection-control teams prefer, while coloured blankets need colourfast dyes that survive repeated washing. Whichever you choose, check colour after several washes on a sample. If you use a colour scheme, align it with your other linen colours so it does not confuse sorting.

Construction details to specify

• Fibre and, for blends, the ratio
• Weave or construction (cellular, flat woven, thermal)
• Weight, so quotations can be compared
• Edge finish: hemmed or bound edges, stitched securely, since frayed edges are a common failure point
• Finished size after washing
• Colour and colourfastness expectations
• Marking: name, logo or ward label placed where it is easy to read when folding
• Any fire-safety documentation your facility requires

How many blankets do you need?

Blankets are usually changed less often than sheets, but they still go through the laundry after each patient and whenever soiled. Some patients will want two. For each ward, estimate:

• Blankets per bed in normal use
• Extra blankets for cold-sensitive patients and recovery
• Laundry turnaround time
• Shelf stock and a reserve

Do not forget non-ward areas: emergency, recovery, imaging, dialysis and outpatient waiting areas often go through more blankets than expected.

Care, inspection and replacement

Blankets often stay in circulation longer than sheets because they look acceptable for a long time. That can hide problems. Include blankets in the same inspection routine as other linen, and withdraw any that show:

• Holes, broken cells or snagged threads that could catch on fingers or equipment
• Frayed or separating edge bindings
• Noticeable shrinkage, so the blanket no longer covers the patient
• Matting or hardening, which reduces warmth and comfort
• Faded colour that no longer matches the ward scheme

Keep a note of how many blankets are withdrawn and why. If edge failure is the main reason, ask for a stronger binding next time; if shrinkage is the problem, review the fabric or the sizing allowance.

Quick checklist

• Blanket type chosen per area
• Fibre, weave and weight stated
• Sized to beds, with paediatric and bariatric sizes if needed
• Edge finish specified
• Colour and colourfastness checked on a sample
• Fire-safety documentation requested if required
• Laundry process compatibility confirmed
• Quantities include non-ward areas

Ordering hospital blankets

Hospital blankets and bed covers are available made to order in cotton and poly-cotton, in white or ward colours, with name or logo marking. MISHAREN confirms the blanket construction, documentation and lead time, including shipping to the UAE, in the quotation. See hospital linen or contact us through contact.