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 …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
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 …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