A hot pack can be used anytime you need some warming pain relief or just to warm your hands when it is cold outside. New hot packs are made from chemicals that react when exposed to the air or when crushed together to make a chemical reaction, while traditional models rely on other energy sources.
Types of Heat Packs
There are many styles of the traditional hot pack on the market today. A gel hot and cold pack can be used in both the microwave and the freezer for pain relief. These gel packs are usually made from plastic and can last a long time with proper care. You can store your packs in the freezer for instant cooling relief as needed and then keep one or two to heat in the microwave for warming pain relief as needed. There are also chemical packs on the market, as well.
Chemical packs come in two varieties: Disposable and reusable. A reusable heat pack will have refills of the chemical components that you may need to mix with water on demand. Some models can also be mixed with snow to produce heat. These reusable packs will need chemical refills and water to work but can provide instant heat in an emergency situation for over an hour. Disposable heat packs are a great option when you need instant heat.
Disposable Heat Pads
A disposable heat pack is covered in thin material and made to begin heating instantly once activated. Like reusable heating pads these devices need to be manipulated in some way to work. Most disposable options are activated upon contact with the air or there may be a small piece inside that you need to break to activate the pad. Reading through the instructions on the plastic packaging will help you activate the pad properly. You can use these disposable packs for any condition where you need heat.
Stocking your car and boat with a heat pack or two in the winter can save your hands and feet from the cold. Most experts recommend placing the heat pads on the chest, neck or groin to maintain body heat in an emergency situation. These areas have blood vessels that are close enough to the surface of your body to spread the warmth enough to keep you from suffering from hypothermia while in the cold. You may need more than one of these heat packs in an emergency situation, or when exposed to extremely cold weather.
Convenience
A hot pack is one of the most convenient ways to provide pain relief or warmth in an emergency situation. You can carry many of these small sized packs on your boat, in your car, or in your home for keeping warm or to use when you have a sprain or other injury. A reusable pack with many refills can also come in handy when you are out during the winter and find yourself stranded because of an automobile breakdown or other emergency.
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