Markus Isser1, Hannah Kranebitter2, Hansjörg Fink3, Franz J Wiedermann4, Wolfgang Lederer5. 1. Medical Division, Mountain Rescue Tyrol, Innsbruck, Austria. 2. Medical Division, Mountain Rescue Tyrol, Innsbruck, Austria; Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria. 3. Ing. Schweiger Fulpmes GmbH, Fulpmes, Austria. 4. Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria. 5. Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria. Electronic address: wolfgang.lederer@i-med.ac.at.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Metallic survival blankets are multifunctional medical devices frequently used to provide thermal insulation in sport and leisure activities and in emergency care. To assess further properties of survival blankets, we investigated their breaking strength under laboratory conditions. METHODS: An experimental study was performed with 2 commercially available survival blankets used by emergency medical services. Breaking strength measured with a tensile testing machine was determined consecutively with 10 tests conducted per brand. RESULTS: Breaking strength (mean±SD) of the tested brands was 3.8±0.4 kN, (range: 2.8-4.1 kN) and 4.0±0.5 kN (range: 3.2-4.6 kN). When using the windlass of a commercially available tourniquet for the longitudinally folded survival blanket, the windlass bent at a force of 0.8 kN; when using a carabiner, the force exceeded 3.6 kN before failure occurred in both blanket brands. CONCLUSIONS: Both brands of survival blankets show impressive tensile strength, indicating that they have the potential to serve as temporary pelvic binders or even as makeshift tourniquets when urgent bleeding control is needed.
INTRODUCTION: Metallic survival blankets are multifunctional medical devices frequently used to provide thermal insulation in sport and leisure activities and in emergency care. To assess further properties of survival blankets, we investigated their breaking strength under laboratory conditions. METHODS: An experimental study was performed with 2 commercially available survival blankets used by emergency medical services. Breaking strength measured with a tensile testing machine was determined consecutively with 10 tests conducted per brand. RESULTS: Breaking strength (mean±SD) of the tested brands was 3.8±0.4 kN, (range: 2.8-4.1 kN) and 4.0±0.5 kN (range: 3.2-4.6 kN). When using the windlass of a commercially available tourniquet for the longitudinally folded survival blanket, the windlass bent at a force of 0.8 kN; when using a carabiner, the force exceeded 3.6 kN before failure occurred in both blanket brands. CONCLUSIONS: Both brands of survival blankets show impressive tensile strength, indicating that they have the potential to serve as temporary pelvic binders or even as makeshift tourniquets when urgent bleeding control is needed.
Authors: Bernd Wallner; Hannah Salchner; Markus Isser; Thomas Schachner; Franz J Wiedermann; Wolfgang Lederer Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-10-05 Impact factor: 4.614