Cold stress is a condition that occurs when body temperature drops below normal for a prolonged period of time. This can happen quickly or over the course of several hours. Factors that affect body temperature and can lead to cold stress are current temperatures, wind chill factors, water and dampness. Cold stress is another name for hypothermia, frost bite or trench foot. One of the fastest and most effective ways to treat someone with cold stress is with the use of a warming blanket. Hospitals are equipped with blanket warmers so a warming blanket is immediately available, but in an emergency you must use your own. While there are specialized warming blankets on the market that have pockets sewn into them for hot packs to be inserted, you can use a simple fleece or wool blanket as a warming blanket.

An electric warming blanket is a blanket with an internal heating device placed above your top bed sheet. They have a control device that adjusts the heat to your personal comfort level. You can use an electric warming blanket to heat up your bed before you are in it, or you can use it to keep you warm while you are in bed.

A neonatal warming blanket is an article that helps keep premature babies warm. Making and donating these blankets can help provide a hospital with needed goods and a family with a personal item during a stressful time. Premature babies haven’t developed enough body fat to keep themselves warm. Incubators and radiant warmers keep premature babies warm in neonatal intensive care units. Blankets help keep premature babies warm the old-fashioned way, and can help babies feel more secure. There are several types of blankets for premature babies available on the market, or people can knit their own. All are made from soft materials, as premature babies have very sensitive skin. Some neonatal warming blankets come with extra features, such as a combination humidifier-blanket.