Survival Blankets

[discovery2]

For many years, we have kept a couple of aluminium insulating blankets in the grab bag, in the event of a MOB or similar incident.

I have always presumed that a cold person/casualty could be placed inside one of these blankets to reduce heat loss.

However, a recent conversation with a 'knowledgeable' person implied that it was not wise to do this as the blanket would also 'insulate the cold person' and the casualty would warm up less slowly.

If this is true, what are survival blankets for, and under what circumstances would they be used?

All ideas/comments would be helpful.

 

[pelicanpete]

My wife uses them for cooking the Sunday roast in.

 

[Csail]

good question, but i assume the thing you put in it will reflect the temp. back to that thing...so maybe who you spoke to is correct.but also it would reduce wind chill and should work better than a blanket etc.

 

[BrendanS]

Remember that blankets of any sort keep heat in, they don't generate it.

If a person is hypothermic (core body temperature has dropped) then it's possible that if in a warm room for instance, the survival blanket could hinder, as the body is not generating heat, and the only way to warm the body is by external heat. If you don't have a warm room, then get someone in the survival blanket with the hypothermic person to generate heat.

If someone is not hypothermic, and is generating body heat, then the survival blanket will keep heat in, and prevent chilling due to wind etc

 

[graham]

In my job we have to do treatment of hypothermia training every couple of years.

The tinfoil"space blankets"have been out of favour for a long time now.They would help a little by keeping the wind off the casualty outdoors but dont provide any warmth .A large blanket or sleeping bag that you can put a warm person in with the casualty is the answer.

PS didnt copy Brendans answwer it appeared while I was writing mine.(great minds think alike) /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Dyflin]

What you need is some of these:

Thermal Protective Aids, or TPA's. it's what the professionals use at sea if they don't have survival suits. Reasonably cheap too.

 

[BrendanS]

Had it drummed into me over many years too!!

If anyone is interested in hypothermia treatment, this is worth a read. Note particularly the bit about removing people from water, and keeping them horizontal, and moving them as little as possible,
http://hypothermia.org/hypothermia3.htm as it's particularly relevant to us boaters!!!

 

[David_Jersey]

Also useful to prevent many STD's /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[graham]

I have allways thought survival suits take too long to struggle into.these allover body condom things(TPAs) would be more practical for a yacht and easier to stow?

 

[bilbobaggins]

The 'first generation' tinfoil sheet is best used in cooking. Every ship's and RNLI lifeboat, every S&R helo, every ambulance now carries a version ( or two ) of the clumsy-name Thermal Protective Aid - or Survival Bag. Every sail- and MoBo boat should have one ( or two ) of these proven lifesavers in the grab bag. They typically cost less than £10......

As for Hypothermia guidance, the RORC has been publishing the following two pages in its annual Race Programme, for years now. I copy the info and distribute to my students, carry this as a laminated card myself in my nav bag, and recommend to others - e.g. forumeers - that they/you do likewise.

The image files are each about 1Mb, so that text can reproduce clearly - or ask the RORC for a copy of their Race Programme.

Hypo1

Hypo2


This could save a child's life - or yours.

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[alant]

Re: Survival Blankets - TPA\'s excellent

TPA's pack down to about A5 size & should be carried in your Grab Bag.
I last used one to keep a crew member warm, she wouldn't go below out of the wind cos of sea sickness & started shivering. Worked extremely quickly & made crew much more comfortable. Will fit without taking lifejacket off, but not yet tried floating in one. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Dyflin]

[ QUOTE ]
I have allways thought survival suits take too long to struggle into.these allover body condom things(TPAs) would be more practical for a yacht and easier to stow?

[/ QUOTE ]

Easier to stow and cheaper but a survival suit is meant to be worn both in and out of the water. With the TPA (and most don't have arms) you'll soon turn into a very good anchor..

 

[TigaWave]

We were advised three years ago that for codeing and safety requirements we needed TPA's rather than foil blankets. I hadn't come across these before and they are far better essential for life raft/grab bag if you havn't got a full emmersion suit.

Ocean Safety have ones with arms and legs very easy to get in.
mail@oceansafety.com

 

[andy_wilson]

Brendan hits the nail on the head. On the basis that not many yachts have rooms at a higher temperature than even a hyperthermic body, keeping useful, warming heat out is unlikely to be an issue.

If the casualties heart is beating and internal organs operating, a tpa will preserve the waste heat from these and allow the rest of the body to catch up.

If you can make the necessary arrangements, getting the casualty naked (or near naked) next to a fellow naked (or near naked) body at full temperature, both suitably insulated from the outside world, is the best way to improve core temperature in an environment like a yacht.

 

[graham]

[ QUOTE ]
If you can make the necessary arrangements, getting the casualty naked (or near naked) next to a fellow naked (or near naked) body

[/ QUOTE ]

We allways keep some warm naked crew just in case. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif