Physical Assessment of Heat Insulation Rescue Foils

Abstract

For the insulation of hypothermic individuals, aluminium-coated foils are used as rescue blankets and rescue suits, respectively. By measurements on a phantom, the efficiency of these foils was tested. Based on an appropriate physical model results were transferred to the thermal reaction of hypothermic individuals. Following investigations were carried out: rescue foil with different types of clothing, comparison between rescue foil and woolen blanket, “Hibler packing”, rescue suit at sudden fall in temperature. Applying these foils and the suit, respectively, a thermal stabilization of the body core is being achieved approximately under realistic conditions. When applying the “Hibler packing”, reheating is achieved both with wet and dry clothing.

Key words

Accidental hypothermia - phantom measurements - rescue blanket - rescue suit