22 clever survival hacks to use an emergency blanket

👉 The key facts from this guide

Everyone knows them: the lightweight, silver-golden emergency blanket that can be found in almost every first aid kit.

But did you know that it not only helps with hypothermia or overheating, but also offers many other brilliant applications?

In this article, I will show you 14 clever applications for a simple emergency blanket that can be useful in survival situations, while camping, or in everyday life.

Survival means knowing how to use the simplest things cleverly – like a emergency blanket.

Before we really get started, let's first take a look together at what this shiny wonder blanket can actually do – and why it is not just reserved for superheroes in gold and silver.

What exactly is a rescue blanket?

A rescue blanket is strictly speaking not a blanket, but a thin, reflective foil measuring 210 × 160 cm.

Your main purpose: To protect people from hypothermia or overheating in emergencies.

In many countries, it is part of the mandatory equipment in cars (vehicle first aid kit), in businesses, or in emergency kits.

Typically, emergency blankets are two-colored – one gold side and one silver side. However, there are also variants in gold/gold or silver/silver. The color scheme is therefore not standardized, but varies depending on the manufacturer.

How do you properly use a rescue blanket now?

Now you might be wondering: How do you use this little shiny thing correctly?

It's simple: It primarily depends on using them appropriately for the situation – whether for protection against hypothermia, shielding from the sun, or to be found.

Here are the general applications for emergencies:

• For cold protection: Wrap the blanket loosely around the body so that a small air cushion forms as additional insulation. Be sure that the blanket shields you or the person from the ground.
• For sun protection: Stretch the blanket as a tarp to effectively deflect incoming heat. Ideally, the blanket should be one meter away from you or the person.
• Visibility: The contrasting golden surface improves visibility from the air by up to 40% – especially important in confusing or snowy environments.
• Shelter: The emergency blanket is wind and waterproof. It is therefore a very useful tool when hiking, trekking, bushcrafting, or skiing, as a shelter or emergency bivouac can be built from it in a short time.

Let's briefly go into the details …

How do you use a rescue blanket for hypothermia?

In case of hypothermia: Wrap up like a burrito – but with style!

The affected person is carefully wrapped in the emergency blanket, leaving only the face exposed (so that they can breathe and complain).

However, the foil should not be too tight – we are preserving heat here, not creating a foil sauna. Instead, wrap it loosely but snugly so that no cold air can enter. If necessary, tie the blanket together or secure it with adhesive tape (but please do not wrap it like a mummy).

And one more note: A rescue blanket does provide warmth, but it does not insulate!

This means that if the hypothermic person is lying on the cold ground, a mat is needed. An air mattress, clothing, a backpack, or in an emergency, a bed made of moss and leaves – the main thing is that there is no direct contact with the cold ground.

How do you use a rescue blanket in case of overheating?

In case of (impending) overheating: Do not wrap a person in foil! This is not a sauna, but an emergency.

Instead, you should stretch the emergency blanket like a sunshade over the person so that air can continue to circulate and no additional heat is trapped.

If stretching is not possible, simply lay the blanket loosely on top so that body heat can escape.

Let's now take a look at what such an inconspicuous emergency blanket can do – spoiler: more than just rustling silver!

1. Thermal insulation on cold nights – Shivering is a thing of the past

As we have learned, the main function of the emergency blanket is the reflection of body heat.

If your sleeping bag is not enough to keep the cold out, the emergency blanket is there for you.

Simply place them under or over you to retain additional warmth and maintain body temperature. Even better! Wrap them directly around your sleeping bag – this way, you get an extra layer of insulation that reflects the warmth even more effectively.

But that's not all!

• The emergency blanket can also be used as an additional sleeping mat if you don't have an air mattress with you. Place it under your sleeping bag to prevent direct contact with the ground and to ward off additional cold.
• And if it gets really icy, use the emergency blanket as an emergency wrap to protect yourself further by wrapping yourself completely in it.

Remember that the blanket retains heat and protects against cold air from outside. With this versatile use of the emergency blanket, you will stay warm and well insulated even on the coldest nights.

2. Heat protection in extreme sunlight – This is how you stay cool!

The emergency blanket can retain heat and reflect sun rays extremely effectively.

Your silver side acts like a mirror, sending the heat back into the sky and preventing direct contact with the sun.

This makes them a real heat protection in extremely hot conditions!

On the go without shade? Use the emergency blanket wisely to significantly lower the temperatures in your tent or car. Simply drape the emergency blanket over the tent or over the car.

This reflects direct sunlight and keeps the interior noticeably cooler – perfect for protecting the vehicle or sleeping area from the hot summer sun.

Especially in parking lots without shade or in areas with high sunlight exposure, where cooling is otherwise hardly possible, this is a brilliant trick.

The emergency blanket works here as a kind of mobilizable sunshade that helps you lower temperatures and avoid the risk of overheating.

3. Water extraction through condensation – How to mine water from the air

If you are in the wilderness without a direct water source and urgently need drinking water, the emergency blanket can become a surprisingly useful tool for water collection.

The emergency blanket is not only an excellent heat and sun protection, but it also helps to extract condensation from the air.

In the wilderness, fog turns into liquid gold – you just have to know how to tap the clouds!

To use this trick, stretch the emergency blanket over a small hole or depression in the ground so that it lies like a tarp over the opening.

This reflects the sun's rays and allows temperature differences between the warm air and the cooler ground to occur. These temperature differences cause the moisture in the air to condense into water, which then collects on the underside of the emergency blanket.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Site selection: Find a small depression, a hole, or a natural indentation in the ground.
2. Stretching the blanket: Lay the emergency blanket over the depression so that it acts like a tarp.
3. Orientation: Make sure the silver side is facing outwards to reflect sunlight and maximize the temperature difference.
4. Collecting water: Place a container (e.g., cup, bottle) directly under the spot where condensation will collect and drip down.
5. Optimal conditions: This method works most reliably in the early morning hours or on cool nights when the temperature differences are particularly pronounced and humidity is high.

Even if the water yield is low, this method can help in emergencies – especially in remote areas without a direct water source. The condensation method with the emergency blanket helps to avoid dehydration in emergencies.

4. Emergency Rain Protection – When it rains, the clouds kiss you

If a sudden rain shower catches you, the emergency blanket can serve as quick protection.

It is waterproof and keeps you dry when you wrap it around your body as a makeshift rain poncho. Leave a small opening for your face to get enough air and move freely.

Alternatively, the emergency blanket also serves as a rain cover over your camp, as illustrated by the image below.

Use branches, trekking poles, or cords to improvise a kind of tarp. This way, you protect yourself and your equipment from moisture.

It is particularly helpful if you stretch the blanket slightly diagonally so that the water can drain off effectively and no puddles form.

5. Signal mirror for emergency rescue – Mirror, mirror, help me out of this jam!

The silver side of the emergency blanket is highly reflective and can therefore be used as an emergency signal mirror.

In an emergency, sunlight can be specifically reflected to attract the attention of rescue teams, hikers, or airplanes.

How does it work? Hold the emergency blanket taut and form a kind of mirror.

Move the reflected surface back and forth to create a striking blink – this is noticed faster than a static glow.

6. Windbreak for your camp – The three little pigs would be proud of you!

Strong wind can not only be unpleasant but can also cause a proper shower of sparks at your campfire, cool down your tent, or make you feel cold while sleeping.

A rescue blanket can serve as an effective windbreak here.

Stretch the tarp with ropes or branches as a barrier against the wind – preferably in the direction of the wind, to protect your camp. This keeps it calmer and warmer, and your fire has a better chance of burning steadily.

And if you want to know how to attach cords to the emergency blanket, then watch the video:

7. Protection for Equipment and Supplies – Your Supplies in Safe Mode

Your gear and supplies are exposed to the whims of nature outside – and it can be quite temperamental at times!

A rescue blanket is the perfect bodyguard for your belongings:

• Waterproof mat: Protect your backpack and supplies from moisture and mud by using the blanket as a waterproof barrier on the ground.
• Protection for equipment: Wrap delicate items like sleeping bags, clothing, or electronics in the blanket to keep them safe from moisture and dirt – a kind of gold foil for your most important utensils.
• Rain protection: Stretch the blanket over your camp or equipment when rain approaches to keep everything dry.

8. Emergency Stretcher – Stay calm, the stretcher does the job!

No one plans to get hurt – but when it happens, improvisation is required!

A rescue blanket is actually designed to keep you warm, but it can also serve as a makeshift stretcher in an emergency.

Use the tear-resistant material to carefully transport an injured person – or at least to partially pull them.

• As a carrier: Roll branches or hiking poles on the sides to create handles for a more stable carry. Ideally, you should use two emergency blankets here.
• As a pulling aid: Twist an emergency blanket and knot it into a stable ring to create a makeshift carrying aid for transporting an injured person. (With this method, the person should still be fully conscious.)

9. Preventing Snow Blindness – DIY Sunglasses Deluxe

Imagine you are in the middle of a snowy landscape, the sun is blazing from the sky, and you feel like a roasted chicken under the heat lamp – just without sunglasses.

Wow, snow blindness! Your eyes "thank" you with pain and tears. But don't worry, your emergency blanket not only saves your butt but also your retina.

Here's how it works:

1. Cut a piece of the emergency blanket – large enough to cover your eyes.
2. Make two narrow slits in it – not too wide, otherwise it won't help.
3. Wrap the whole thing with string, paracord, or as a long band around your head.

The silver side of the emergency blanket should face outward towards the sun!

Why do you ask? Because the silver side reflects more light and thus better shields against the glaring sun rays and the extreme brightness of the snow. This helps to reduce glare and protect your eyes.

Voilà, you now have a stylish emergency snow goggles that reduce light reflection! Not the prettiest goggles in the world, but at least you see the Yeti before it sees you.

10. Fishing with Shine Effect – Emergency Blanket as a Secret Fishing Weapon!

Did you know that light reflections can either attract or confuse fish? This is where the emergency blanket comes into play!

1. Attracting fish: Place a piece of the emergency blanket in the water to attract curious fish with the reflections. The flickering light simulates small prey and shows you where the fish are located. This way, you can strategically place a trap or fishing line.

2. Improvising fishing weights: Wrap small pieces of the emergency blanket around stones to create makeshift weights. These will keep the bait underwater while also providing eye-catching light reflections that attract fish.

3. Build your own indicator: Cut thin strips of the emergency blanket and attach them to a hook with a weight. The sparkling material imitates a bait fish and makes your fishing method even more effective.

11. Temporary Emergency Shelter – Your Personal Mini Tent!

If you are out in the wilderness and suddenly need shelter, then the emergency blanket is a strong ally.

Build a quick, improvised tent with just a few simple steps! Here's how:

1. Completely unfold the emergency blanket
2. Attach strings to the corners (see video above) or place small stones in the corners and tie a string around them
3. Then stretch the emergency blanket well so that you have maximum space underneath

Tips:

• If you use the emergency blanket as a windbreak, make sure it is well tensioned so that the wind does not blow underneath it.
• Hang it up in strong sunlight so that it acts like a sun sail – this keeps the inside nice and cool and shady!
• Tighten additional ropes or secure the ends of the emergency blanket to the ground for more stability.

If you align them correctly, wind and rain stay outside and warmth stays inside.

The emergency blanket may look sturdy, but unfortunately, it is not a Hulk! So be careful not to place it on sharp stones, thorny plants, or pointed branches that could tear it apart like a supervillain.

12. Fire Booster for Frosty Nights – Your Emergency Blanket as a Heat Booster!

Imagine you are having a cozy campfire in a freezing environment – the flames are dancing, you feel like an adventurer… but the cold still makes you turn into an icicle.

No problem! Your emergency blanket will become a heat booster machine!

Simply set up behind the fire as a reflector, and voilà – the heat radiates directly back to you.

You will be surprised at how quickly your body temperature changes from "icicle" to "happy campfire person."

The trick? The blanket is so cleverly designed that it reflects more warmth than you ever thought possible. Give it a try!

Place the blanket so that the silver side (the reflective side) faces the fire and the gold side faces outwards to better retain the heat.

13. Temporary Rope Making – Little Rope, Be Strong

If you are out in the wilderness and find yourself lacking rope or string – no panic, the emergency blanket is here!

Tear the fabric into strips about 5 cm wide and then twist them skillfully together.

The blanket is made of a sturdy material that, even though it is intended as an emergency blanket, has a surprisingly high tear resistance.

You will be amazed at how quickly you can craft an improvised cord or rope. One tip: The tighter you twist the strips together, the stronger the "rope structure" will be. In my guide "Making rope and creating a sturdy cord from nettle" you will find the technique in detail.

These improvised ropes can then be used for all sorts of things – from hanging equipment to securing tent poles.

14. Transport container for water – In the footsteps of H₂O

Use the emergency blanket creatively as a temporary water container when you are out in the wilderness without a container.

Simply fold the blanket into a bag or a sack and fill it with water!

Take the water directly from the source when you are near a stream or river, and store it in your improvised water carrier.

If you use the emergency blanket as a water container, make sure to seal it as well as possible. Simply knot the ends or tie them together with a piece of string.

No precious water is wasted, and you always have a practical water storage with you – ideal for long hikes or emergencies!

15. Way marking – for desperate hikers

Hansel and Gretel had their breadcrumbs – you have your emergency blanket. And unlike the breadcrumbs, no bird will eat away your markings!

Cut the fabric into narrow strips and tie them to branches or twigs along your path.

The shiny, colored markings are visible even from a distance and help you find the right way.

16. Emergency Socks and Insoles – for Warm Feet

Cold, wet feet are not only uncomfortable, but they can also become downright dangerous in survival situations. This is where the emergency blanket comes into play as a foot saver!

Here are my three favorite applications:

1. Cut the blanket into two smaller squares and wrap them around your feet. With some tape, you have an improvised cold protection that keeps your feet warm and protects against moisture.
2. Or use the emergency blanket as an insole in your shoes -- the reflective surface reflects body heat back to your feet while insulating against the cold from the ground.
3. Your hiking boots are soaked? Wrap your feet in emergency blanket material and then slip into the wet shoes -- this way, your feet will still stay dry and warm.

17. Privacy in the Wilderness – your little bathroom

The fact is: The emergency blanket transforms in no time into a privacy screen that gives you some privacy!

Simply stretch the tarp between two trees, attach it to a branch, or have a patient friend hold it if necessary. Now you have an improvised changing room or a "wilderness bathroom".

This is particularly practical when camping in open areas or in groups, where natural hiding spots are scarce. With this shiny barrier, you can change clothes, wash, or take care of other personal matters without the whole hiking group having to watch.

18. Emergency Belt – so your dignity doesn't fall down

All that hiking has made your waist shrink? But don't worry – the emergency blanket not only keeps your body temperature, but also your pants in a pinch!

Cut a long and wide strip and thread it through the belt loops of your pants. For extra stability, braid several strips together into a sturdy braid.

This shimmering improvisation solution keeps your pants in place and ensures that you can fully concentrate on the adventure instead of constantly pulling up your slipping pants.

19. Water Catchment Station – Harvesting Rain Made Easy

The fact is: In a survival situation, water is your top priority.

And a rescue blanket can help you collect life-saving raindrops!

Stretch the tarp slightly diagonally between trees or stones so that it forms a dip in the middle (like a kind of "V"). Place a container under the lowest point, and the waterproof surface will collect every raindrop for you.

This method is particularly effective in rain-rich areas and can help you obtain clean drinking water without expending much energy or setting up complicated filtration systems.

And if you're interested in whether rainwater can be drunk, then read "Is rainwater clean and drinkable?".

20. Bow Drill Cord – So it finally burns

A bow drill is an effective method to make fire in the wilderness – provided you have the right materials for it. And guess what can help you with that? Right, your trusty emergency blanket!

Braid a sturdy cord from the emergency blanket that you can use for the bow of your bow drill. This improvised cord is surprisingly tear-resistant and can withstand the necessary tension to rotate the drill quickly.

Short instructions:

• Cut several long strips from the emergency blanket
• Twist these strips into a sturdy cord
• Attach the cord to both ends of a flexible branch
• Wrap the drill around the cord once
• Move the bow back and forth to rotate the drill and generate friction heat

Read more here: What is a bow drill and how does it work? (+free construction manual)

21. Turbo-accelerated snow melting – Liquid gold from ice

Imagine you are surrounded by snow, but have no liquid water – with a rescue blanket, you can melt the snow at turbo speed!

And this is how it works:

1. Spread the emergency blanket out in the sun, distribute the snow on it, and the magic begins: The reflective surface amplifies the sun's warmth and significantly accelerates the melting process.
2. To catch the meltwater, shape the blanket into a slight depression. This way, not a drop of the precious water is lost.

This method not only saves time, but also valuable energy and fuel that you would otherwise need to melt snow.

22. Emergency Tourniquet – When Every Second Counts

In a serious emergency with heavy bleeding, an improvised pressure bandage is essential. But what if this is no longer sufficient? Then a tourniquet can be life-saving. Here, too, your emergency blanket comes into play!

For an improvised tourniquet, you need three things:

1. A strip (here: many thick strips of the emergency blanket or complete)
2. A gag (a sturdy stick or branch)
3. Something for securing (additional strips of the emergency blanket)

Here's how it works:

1. Wrap a wide strip of the emergency blanket around the extremity above the wound
2. Place the stick on the strip and make a double knot over it
3. Twist the stick to apply pressure on the artery and stop the blood flow
4. Secure the stick with another strip so that it does not come loose

IMPORTANT: A tourniquet should only be used in life-threatening situations with severe bleeding as a last resort! Be sure to remember the time of application. Seek medical help as soon as possible!

Conclusion: A emergency blanket is more than just first aid

As you can see, a simple emergency blanket is a true survival all-rounder.

Whether for warming, protecting, or as an emergency tool – it can be vital in many situations. So, for your next outdoor adventure, you should definitely have one with you.

And I hope that you have one in your first aid kit. In this regard, I can offer you my first aid list tool, which helps you to assemble your individual first aid kit. In the end, you will have a printable list.

So, what are you waiting for? Grab your emergency blanket, try out all those fantastic tricks, and become a survival pro.

If you need a rescue blanket quickly, do it like my wife and daughter – off to the nearest pharmacy! They could hardly believe what it is useful for.

It is also available at hardware stores, outdoor shops, or online at a low price. I have linked one for you here:

You will see, with this little silver foil you are not only equipped for any adventure – you are the James Bond of the wilderness!

And remember: Whether as a tent, heat source, or fishing hero – the emergency blanket is your invisible but always shining companion.

Do you have any more creative ideas for using a rescue blanket? You are welcome to share them in the comments!

Best regards, Ben Monda-Lang

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