4 of the Best Emergency Blankets to Have on Hand
Most people think of the critical survival gear they need for emergencies, but most don’t think how important a warm emergency blanket is in a survival situation. If you live in an area prone to winter weather or go camping or RVing, an emergency blanket is something to keep on hand.
People assume that you have to be outside in the cold to get hypothermia, but hypothermia can also occur by ongoing exposure to indoor temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. But what, exactly, is an emergency blanket?
What Is an Emergency Blanket?
People can use emergency blankets to prevent heat loss from their bodies caused by evaporation, convection or thermal radiation. There are several names for them, such as Mylar, weather, first aid or space blanket. And they’re not just used by campers and survivalists. Surgeons, marathon runners, mountaineers and astronauts use them as well.
Photo: Adventure Medical Kits
Bivvy vs. Emergency Blanket
People often use these two terms interchangeably, but there is a difference. A bivvy comes shaped in a bag made from heat-reflective material like metalized polyethylene. It reflects 90 percent of your body heat back at you.
An emergency blanket is made of the same material, but it’s one piece of rectangular material just like any other blanket. The choice between the two is more about preference than anything. Now, here are LA Police Gear’s most popular emergency blankets.
This Silver Elite emergency blanket is an LA Police Gear favorite. It’s 52 inches by 82 inches and waterproof and reusable. These blankets are great to use at sporting events, on camping trips, for emergencies and more. They are also great for emergency situations because their reflective surface is highly visible so people can find you easier.
The space-age design holds up to 90 percent of your body heat and reflects heat and sun for cooling in extremely hot climates.
This emergency blanket is 52inches by 84 inches, so it’s a little smaller. It reflects your body heat back to you and is used to treat or prevent hypothermia. It’s small, so it fits in your backpack or bag easily. These blankets make great gifts for outdoorsmen, hikers, survivalists and campers.
This blanket is the Cadillac of emergency blankets. Blizzard Survival hypothermia prevention products use a two-layer Reflexcell material to create insulation between the person and the environment. This emergency blanket is a cost-effective solution for you to control when someone’s core body temperature drops. You can use this blanket even in the warmest climates.
Use this blanket in trauma incidents or as an insulating blanket in extreme cold weather conditions. Here’s what makes Blizzard’s Reflexcell blankets and other products so warm:
- The silver reflective surface blocks radiated heat.
- The cells inside the material trap still, warm air, providing incredible insulation.
- Unlike other similar products, it still works when it’s wet.
- The outer layer is totally wind- and waterproof.
- The elastic helps the material hug close to the bottom, so it reduces convection, keeps the material close to you and stops drafts.
If you’re wearing weather-appropriate clothing, try to find shelter and have some insulation beneath you. You’ll be comfortable and warm in summer, autumn and spring. In winter, you might be less comfortable, but it’s possible to survive for a few days in the most extreme cold weather conditions.
This blanket may be a little more expensive, but it’s much tougher and works better than the less pricey options.
The Blizzard Compact Blanket is made of two layers of Reflexcell with integral elastic, which traps heat, while a high-performing metalized OPP material reflects heat back to the user, regulating core body temperature. The Blizzard Compact is an essential survival item for any outdoor emergency kit.
These are just a few of the excellent emergency blankets that LA Police Gear carries. Buy one for the camper, outdoor adventurer, survivalist or hiker in your life, and keep one for yourself for the next time you find yourself in an emergency situation.
Shop Emergency Blankets and Bivvys
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