How to use the thermal blanket?
The thermal blanket is an item that should not be left out of our first aid kit security.
The most distinguishing feature of the emergency thermal blanket is that it each side has two different colours: the obverse is silver while the reverse is gold. Each side serves to regulate the temperature during an excursion. In this article we will explain how to use the thermal blanket and its main features.
How to use the thermal blanket to prevent hypothermia
The first thing to note about the thermal blanket is that it is not used to remedy hypothermia. On a hike, hypothermia is not remedied; it is prevented.. This means that we must be aware of the early symptoms of hypothermia in order to prevent it effectively.
Hypothermia can occur on any excursion in an environment cold enough to allow your body temperature to drop below 35 degrees Celsius. If you or a companion is shivering with cold, then cover them with a thermal blanket so that they can rest while you go out to get help.
1 - Insulates the patient from the cold
To insulate the patient from the cold, it is necessary to keep the patient as warm as possible. Place the necessary clothing or coats so that the patient's body temperature does not drop any further.
At this point, it is best to pause so that your partner can rest. However, you can NOT allow him/her to rest on the cold floor. It is necessary to insulate the floor with a mat, clothing, the backpack or ropes, whatever is necessary so that the patient can sit or lie down without continuing to lose heat through contact with the floor.
2 - Wrap the patient in the thermal blanket, gold side out.
The gold side does not reflect light and heat, while the silver side reflects light and heat.. This is essential: to help a partner with a low temperature, you must cover him using the thermal blanket with the golden side facing outwards.
This has a twofold objective:
- The golden side of the thermal blanket will absorb the sunlight and absorb the heat it produces.
- The silver side of the blanket will reflect the heat emanating from the partner's body. If the partner is well covered, this will produce a small greenhouse effect that will help him/her to regain temperature.
3 - Secure the thermal blanket so that the wind cannot lift it.
When warming your companion with the warming blanket, you should secure it to prevent it from being lifted by the wind and causing them to lose heat. If the patient is seated, then you can secure the blanket by placing the ends under the patient's body or, if this is not possible, with stones or other objects to prevent the blanket from blowing away. If snow is the only thing available to secure the blanket, then take care that it does not touch the patient to prevent heat loss.
If your companion feels weak or has suffered a fall or fracture, he will not be able to sit upright. In this case, it is wise to lay him/her down on the covered floor and fix the warming blanket with adhesive tape. Pay special attention to fix the blanket on the legs and feet properly, so that there are no openings that allow contact with the air or cold ground.
The important thing when covering the partner with the thermal blanket is that the face must be uncovered so that the partner can breathe unhindered.
4 - Light a candle to bring the temperature back up faster.
Lighting a small candle and placing it inside the blanket can be very helpful for the companion to recover faster. However, several precautions must be taken. At the same time, your companion must be able to sit upright and the thermal blanket must be well secured.
Obviously, the opening of the thermal blanket must not face into the wind.
This technique can reduce recovery time by 4 to 5 times.
5 - Leave the partner water and a light
While you are calling for help, the patient will probably need to drink water. You should leave a bottle of water with them so that they can stay hydrated in your absence - if you have no other way of notifying anyone. You can read the following article from how to call 112-.
On the other hand, it is important for the patient to have a torch so that it can indicate its position in case help arrives during the night.
How to use a thermal blanket to prevent heat stroke
When it comes to using the thermal blanket for a case of heat stroke, then the patient should be wrapped with the blanket, but this time with the silver side facing outwards.. As explained above, this side reflects light and heat, so it will help the patient to lower his or her temperature.
The first thing to do, when helping a colleague with fatigue or heat stroke, is to place him/her under a shadow. If no shade is available, then it is necessary to use the thermal blanket as a canopy.
While hypothermia requires the heating blanket to be tightly wrapped around the body, heat stroke requires the blanket to cover the patient's body, but not to be tightly wrapped, i.e. the blanket must be wrapped around the body, the air needs to flow to lower the heat of the wounded person's body.
In this case, it is essential to place the injured person with his back to the sun and, if possible, facing the wind. In this case, fix the heating blanket with stones or other heavy objects so that it is not blown away by the breeze.
Final tips on how to use the thermal blanket
- The thermal blanket can also be used for request assistance in the event of an aerial search. To do this, simply place it on the ground with the silver side up and secure it with stones or other heavy objects. If the stones allow some undulation caused by the wind, the better because it will reflect light in all directions and will be easier to see from a plane or helicopter.
- The thermal blanket is ironed and folded at the factory. Check it thoroughly before going on a trip. If the colours are faded or the material is too brittle, then the blanket has expired and may break when you need it.
- An emergency thermal blanket is not suitable for use as a roof for your camp. There are special blankets that you can use for this purpose and you should purchase them before you leave for your trip.
