Rescue Blankets as Multifunctional Rescue Equipment in Alpine and Wilderness Emergencies-A Narrative Review and...

Area of Science:

• Pre-hospital Emergency Medicine
• Wilderness Medicine
• Medical Device Innovation

Background:

• Rescue blankets are standard in pre-hospital emergency medicine, primarily for hypothermia prevention and visibility.
• Their full potential and diverse applications beyond thermal insulation remain underexplored in emergency scenarios.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a narrative review on the alternative, multifunctional applications of rescue blankets in pre-hospital settings.
• To evaluate the robustness and practical utility of rescue blankets in various emergency medical situations, particularly in alpine environments.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed and Web of Science databases.
• Included studies were critically evaluated, with a focus on articles detailing alternative functions of rescue blankets.
• Experimental and observational trials were performed to assess practical applications in mountain emergency medicine.

Main Results:

• Newly fabricated rescue blankets demonstrated significant robustness.
• Evaluated applications included treatment of catastrophic hemorrhage, creation of chest seals for open pneumothorax, eye protection in glacial environments, and use as transport devices.
• Rescue blankets proved effective in multiple critical care scenarios beyond hypothermia prevention.

Conclusions:

• Rescue blankets are highly versatile, multifunctional tools essential for pre-hospital and wilderness emergency care.
• Their utility extends to critical interventions such as hemorrhage control and chest sealing.
• These blankets should be considered indispensable components of personal medical kits for alpine and wilderness emergencies.