Emergency Thermal Blankets Protect Against Winter Cold

(Newswire.net — January 14, 2018) Woodbridge, VA — As many parts of the U.S. experience an exceptionally cold winter, mylar blankets, or emergency thermal blankets are being distributed to those in need of extra warmth.

Also known as space blankets, they were developed by NASA in the 1960s for use on the exterior of spacecraft, as well as by astronauts, to provide thermal control. Their design and composition (PET plastic coated in a metallic reflecting agent on one side) reduce heat loss that can be caused by convection, evaporation, and thermal radiation. Lightweight, compact, windproof and waterproof, the use of space blankets evolved over time. They are now often included in first aid and survival kits, go bags and alongside camping gear.

Mylar blankets can also be used to insulate food or drinks, to create shelter or shade, as a distress signal, and dozens of other improvised uses. They are particularly popular among outdoor enthusiasts, such as campers and hikers, who take advantage of the blanket’s compact size and multi-use functionality. The blankets are also used by marathoners after the race to help regulate their body temperature, and by aid workers, who value them for their size and effectiveness.

Catching onto the idea that emergency thermal blankets serve a multitude of vital purposes, people purchase them to distribute to those without heat in winter, such as Surviveware customer Patricia S.: “I purchased 35 of these blankets for use by those in the Kansas City area who needed additional means of staying warm during the last brutal cold snap. I know of one woman who lives in an unfinished basement, and was without heat because her landlord did not pay his gas bill, who received one of the blankets. Because of their extreme effectiveness, one of the social workers asked if the remaining blankets could be distributed to the homeless who live on the streets. The answer was absolutely. For those who want to help others who are less privileged, these blankets can literally be a life saver.”

Just as they were developed to protect astronauts against the extreme climates of outer space, mylar blankets serve a purpose in protecting those without homes or heat against the unbearable chill of the winter season.