Survival Uses for Mylar Blankets
First developed by NASA in 1964 Mylar blankets or also known as space blankets or thermal blankets are made from a thin sheet of plastic usually PET film that is coated with a metallic reflecting agent. Typically the blankets are gold or silver in color and the material is designed to reflect up to 97 percent of radiated heat. The blankets are designed to be waterproof as well.
The reflective nature makes a Mylar blanket a literal lifesaver in cold weather survival situations for maintaining body heat to prevent hypothermia. However, besides keeping the body warm and protected from rain and snow there are many other uses for Mylar blankets. Uses you may not have thought of.
In addition to the typical Mylar blanket found in many off the shelf first aid kits there are space blankets that are considered all weather. The blankets are heavy duty and not a "one-time-use" blanket. You can purchase the blankets that have grommets in all corners so the blanket can be used like a tarp to make an emergency shelter. Having more than one blanket means you can create a bigger shelter by securing the blankets together using the grommets and cordage. Some believe the blankets are warmer than wool without the weight. They are waterproof, as well, making them ideal for any survival situation. The heavier blankets come in bright colors making them ideal for signaling rescue personnel. Red or orange would be ideal for signaling devices. http://www.amazon.com/Space-All-Weather-Blanket-Orange/dp/B0045DXWYY/ 1. Fire Starting You may have seen the episode of Fat Guys In The Woods (Season 2, Episode 1"Operation Desert Patrol") where Creek Stewart uses a plastic coffee can and a piece of a Mylar to create a parabolic fire starting device. A parabolic reflector is a concave reflective surface that is used to collect and project energy, in this case, the energy from the sun's rays. The reflective surface Creek used was a piece from the highly reflective material of a Mylar blanket. The container was a plastic coffee can with its lid. The lid center was cut out leaving enough of the lid to secure a piece of the Mylar over the top of the can. A hole was cut close to the bottom of the can and a Bic pen was inserted. The empty pen case acted as a straw. To create a concave reflector one of the guys had to suck the air from the can drawing the Mylar piece into a concave shape. …show more content…
The shape is the same as the reflector behind your headlight bulbs.
The straw would have to be stout enough material so it would not collapse as you sucked on it. The plastic straws you would typically have at home would likely collapse before all of the air was drawn from the can.
The problem with the device the guys made was it required two people, one to hold the vacuum by sucking in to keep the shape of the material, and another one to hold dry tinder so it catches the suns reflection. This device does work however.
What you can do if you are alone is to fashion a piece of Mylar over a plastic or even a metal container and use the tinder as a weight to create the concave shape. The shape is what concentrates the sun's rays on to the tinder, similar to how a magnifying glass would concentrate the rays enough to create heat that would ignite combustible material. Set in direct sun and wait, it requires patience and you may have to move the device around some.
Use the bottom of a gallon jug or any type of bowl to create the same effects, by lining the inside with the Mylar's' reflective side out. Place the tinder in the center and place in the sun.
2.) Cooking/Water Purification Again use a bowl or even a depression in the ground lined with Mylar to create a solar oven. Place food in the center and let the heat do the rest. You can also purify water to some extent using this method as well. You would need a clear, safe for water container, such as a water bottle or clear plastic jug. Place the container full of the contaminated water in the center of the depression. Three things will begin
First developed by NASA in 1964 Mylar blankets or also known as space blankets or thermal blankets are made from a thin sheet of plastic usually PET film that is coated with a metallic reflecting agent. Typically the blankets are gold or silver in color and the material is designed to reflect up to 97 percent of radiated heat. The blankets are designed to be waterproof as well.
The reflective nature makes a Mylar blanket a literal lifesaver in cold weather survival situations for maintaining body heat to prevent hypothermia. However, besides keeping the body warm and protected from rain and snow there are many other uses for Mylar blankets. Uses you may not have thought of.
In addition to the typical Mylar blanket found in many off the shelf first aid kits there are space blankets that are considered all weather. The blankets are heavy duty and not a "one-time-use" blanket. You can purchase the blankets that have grommets in all corners so the blanket can be used like a tarp to make an emergency shelter. Having more than one blanket means you can create a bigger shelter by securing the blankets together using the grommets and cordage. Some believe the blankets are warmer than wool without the weight. They are waterproof, as well, making them ideal for any survival situation. The heavier blankets come in bright colors making them ideal for signaling rescue personnel. Red or orange would be ideal for signaling devices. http://www.amazon.com/Space-All-Weather-Blanket-Orange/dp/B0045DXWYY/ 1. Fire Starting You may have seen the episode of Fat Guys In The Woods (Season 2, Episode 1"Operation Desert Patrol") where Creek Stewart uses a plastic coffee can and a piece of a Mylar to create a parabolic fire starting device. A parabolic reflector is a concave reflective surface that is used to collect and project energy, in this case, the energy from the sun's rays. The reflective surface Creek used was a piece from the highly reflective material of a Mylar blanket. The container was a plastic coffee can with its lid. The lid center was cut out leaving enough of the lid to secure a piece of the Mylar over the top of the can. A hole was cut close to the bottom of the can and a Bic pen was inserted. The empty pen case acted as a straw. To create a concave reflector one of the guys had to suck the air from the can drawing the Mylar piece into a concave shape. …show more content…
The shape is the same as the reflector behind your headlight bulbs.
The straw would have to be stout enough material so it would not collapse as you sucked on it. The plastic straws you would typically have at home would likely collapse before all of the air was drawn from the can.
The problem with the device the guys made was it required two people, one to hold the vacuum by sucking in to keep the shape of the material, and another one to hold dry tinder so it catches the suns reflection. This device does work however.
What you can do if you are alone is to fashion a piece of Mylar over a plastic or even a metal container and use the tinder as a weight to create the concave shape. The shape is what concentrates the sun's rays on to the tinder, similar to how a magnifying glass would concentrate the rays enough to create heat that would ignite combustible material. Set in direct sun and wait, it requires patience and you may have to move the device around some.
Use the bottom of a gallon jug or any type of bowl to create the same effects, by lining the inside with the Mylar's' reflective side out. Place the tinder in the center and place in the sun.
2.) Cooking/Water Purification Again use a bowl or even a depression in the ground lined with Mylar to create a solar oven. Place food in the center and let the heat do the rest. You can also purify water to some extent using this method as well. You would need a clear, safe for water container, such as a water bottle or clear plastic jug. Place the container full of the contaminated water in the center of the depression. Three things will begin