Who would put an electric blanket on top of themselves?

There used to be two types of electric blankets. Overblankets, and underblankets. The former were mostly phased out in Europe, because they could be hazardous if used as an underblanket.

@tiger

Cheers for that. I've always associated them with an underblanket.

So far I've no experience of using any, not much call for them back home, but I may have to get one if this weather carries.

New arrivals shouldn't worry too much, this is about as cold as it gets, though it seems awful to those of us who've been here for awhile away from really cold climates and/or are not used to unpleasantly unheated buildings. It rarely stays this cold for more than a couple days or so, then will pop up above 10 degrees again, even 15, with sunshine. Only sporadic - although in fact I hate it. Excellent time to go to Jinghong or farther south - actually, it's not a matter of going south so much as it is a matter of going downhill.

Americans will wrap themselves in an electric blanket or use it 'over'. Homes are better insulated and we're lazy, so much easier to just use on top.