Why are hospital blankets warm

Some people wonder why are hospital blankets warm. Well, for obvious reasons, hospital blankets are used to ensure that severely ill patients are kept at the right temperature to regulate their body temperature whilst in hospital.

Hospitals use different types of blankets on different wards – a common hospital blanket is a cellular blanket. These blankets are considered warm as they provide an extra layer of warmth. The holes in the blanket allow air to move into the fibres, this heats up with the warmth of the body, and this warm air is then trapped inside the layers. This process means the blanket warms up faster than non cellular blankets, which is why they are a popular choice for patients.

Other types of hospital blankets are the thermal throw blankets. These are designed with small woven pockets which, like the cellular blanket, traps warmth. Despite being very lightweight they are relied on by hospitals to provide warmth when needed, without overheating a patient.