As the weather gets colder, one of the best things to carry around is a hot pack. Holding a hot pack in your hand or attaching a heat pad helps maintain body temperature. So, where is the best place to put a hot pack? Let's also learn about the precautions.

◇ Effective when placed near the abdomen or chest

 

It is recommended to place a hot pack near the abdomen or chest. This is because the deep body temperature, which is the internal core temperature, is most affected by the temperature of the head, chest, and abdomen. Placing it near the abdomen or chest helps raise the deep body temperature, effectively increasing the overall body temperature. The hand holding the hot pack is usually the most distal part of the body, farthest from the center, so its core temperature preservation effect is reduced. When the peripheral temperature drops, frostbite can occur in that area, but if the deep body temperature falls below 35°C, hypothermia can develop, impairing blood circulation, damaging multiple organs, and potentially leading to death from cardiac arrest. Moreover, maintaining the deep body temperature can also prevent the peripheral temperature from dropping due to impaired blood circulation.

◇Place it on your clothes and change its position frequently

 

However, hot packs should be placed over clothing, not directly on bare skin. This is because there is a risk of low-temperature burns. According to a survey by the Korea Consumer Agency, from 2015 to 2017, a total of 226 cases of harm caused by hot packs were reported, with burns accounting for 197 cases (87.2%), the highest. It is safer to place them between clothing and outerwear or between underwear and clothing. In particular, adhesive hot packs are a major cause of low-temperature burns. Low-temperature burns refer to skin injuries caused by prolonged exposure to relatively low temperatures (40-70°C). Although adhesive hot packs are relatively small, they can generate heat for over 10 hours and reach temperatures as high as 70°C. Therefore, prolonged use can cause ▲redness of the skin ▲itching ▲blisters, and in severe cases, ▲skin necrosis or ▲ulcers.

If a cold burn occurs, the priority is to lower the skin temperature exposed to heat for a long time. After cooling the heat with running cold water for about 10 minutes, apply burn ointment or moisturizer, and then visit a specialized burn hospital or dermatologist. If blisters form, do not remove them arbitrarily, as this can lead to bacterial infection.

Hot packs should be changed frequently and not attached to the same spot for a long time. It is safer not to use them at all while sleeping, as you may not immediately notice the heat. Some people put hot packs inside their blankets or attach them to their soles while sleeping, but this can cause serious burns if early symptoms like itching are missed. ▲Infants ▲Elderly ▲Diabetes patients and others with reduced skin sensation should generally avoid using hot packs. When purchasing a hot pack, choose products with the KC mark and safety verification registration number.

 

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Low-temperature burns caused by hot packs are scary, right?

Moving back and forth

 

Would a hot pack be better?

Would a hand warmer be better?

I want to get one...