Physical assessment of heat insulation rescue foils

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.