A trauma casualty in the cold loses heat fast, and hypothermia drives the lethal triad — worsening coagulopathy and acidosis. A reflective-only blanket bounces back radiant heat but adds no insulation and no active warmth.
What pairs active heat with real insulation for cold-weather field care?
The HRS-Insulated does both. Where the standard shell relies on its reflective layer plus a chemical liner, the HRS-I builds Climashield® insulation directly into a 5-ply shell — higher passive retention before any active heat is added. The included 4-Cell Ready Heat™ blanket is oxygen-activated and self-heating, sustaining up to 10 hours of continuous dry heat with no batteries, electrical connection, or microwaved gel — it begins warming the moment the cells meet air. Together, sustained active heat and enhanced passive insulation make a more thermally robust system than the standard shell, tuned for prolonged field care in cold environments. A built-in insulated hood covers the head and neck, 1.5″ continuous hook-and-loop gives 360° access and supports 250+ lb for packaging, and the whole shell is impervious to wind and rain. It ships vacuum-packed in a rugged pliable pouch with NAR Red Tip Technology® for fast, gloved, low-light opening.
System note: a passive-insulation plus active-chemical-heat hypothermia-management shell, part of the HPMK-I platform. Field hypothermia prevention is an adjunct to, not a substitute for, definitive rewarming and evacuation. Apply per unit protocol and training.
Why This Shell
Insulation Built In
Climashield® in a 5-ply shell — passive retention before active heat.
10 Hours Of Dry Heat
4-Cell Ready Heat™ — oxygen-activated, no batteries or power.
360° Access + Hood
Continuous hook-and-loop reassessment without full exposure; insulated hood.
Red Tip Vacuum Pack
Low-cube storage; fast gloved, low-light opening.
Who Fields It
Cold-weather military med — prolonged field care in the cold
SAR & wilderness EMS — exposure and trauma hypothermia
MEDEVAC & transport — thermal protection through evacuation
Build It Out
The Shell, Up Close
Active Heat. Real Insulation.
Genuine North American Rescue, shipped from a clinician-founded, veteran-led team.
Genuine North American Rescue
Sourced direct from North American Rescue.
Specifications
| Manufacturer | North American Rescue |
| SKU | ZZ-1452 |
| Shell Construction | 5-ply composite, protected reflective layer + Climashield® insulation |
| Heat Source | 4-Cell Ready Heat™ blanket, oxygen-activated, up to 10 hr |
| Access / Closure | 1.5″ continuous hook-and-loop; 360° access; supports 250+ lb |
| Hood | Built-in insulated hood |
| Open Dimensions | 78″ L × 43″ W |
| Packaging | Vacuum-packed pliable pouch; NAR Red Tip Technology® |
| Environmental | Impervious to wind and rain |
When to Deploy Heat Reflective Shell - Insulated
- Cold-weather CASEVAC without active warming: The HRS-I's built-in Climashield insulation provides standalone thermal protection in extreme cold — no separate warming liner required.
- Arctic and mountain operations: Extended CASEVAC in sub-zero environments where active warming supplies may be limited — the HRS-I provides passive high-performance insulation.
- Hypothermia prevention — MARCH protocol: The CoTCCC-recommended outer shell for cold-weather hypothermia prevention, with insulation built in for cold climates.
- Wilderness SAR in cold environments: Search and rescue teams operating in cold and alpine terrain require durable, insulated patient packaging for extended ground transports.
- Upgrade from standard HRS in cold deployments: Units deploying to cold environments replace the standard HRS with the HRS-I for enhanced passive insulation without changing their warming protocol.
- Remote and expeditionary medicine: Austere environments where resupply is limited and active warming sources cannot be reliably stocked — the HRS-I provides self-sufficient thermal protection.
The HRS-I is the insulated version of the standard Heat Reflective Shell — same outer construction, with a built-in Climashield insulation layer. Select HRS-I for cold-weather deployments where maximum passive thermal retention is required; select the standard HRS for temperate and warm-weather operations where the insulation adds unnecessary bulk.
How Heat Reflective Shell - Insulated Compares
HRS-Insulated vs standard Heat Reflective Shell: The HRS-I adds a Climashield synthetic insulation layer to the standard HRS construction. In cold environments, the HRS-I provides significantly higher passive thermal retention without a separate active warming liner. In temperate environments, the standard HRS is preferred — the insulation layer adds weight and bulk that is unnecessary in moderate climates.
HRS-I vs HPMK Insulated (HPMK-I): The HRS-I is the standalone insulated shell; the HPMK-I is the complete insulated kit including both the HRS-I shell and the self-heating liner. For maximum cold-weather performance, the HPMK-I provides active plus passive warming; the standalone HRS-I provides passive insulation for environments where active warming is not available.
Environmental performance: The HRS-I's 5-ply construction (4-ply HRS + Climashield layer) maintains wind and rain impermeability while adding insulation. The continuous Velcro closures are the same 250+ lb rated system as the standard HRS — no performance compromise on structural support for patient transport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the Heat Reflective Shell Insulated (HRS-I) CoTCCC-recommended?
A: The HRS-I is the insulated version of the outer shell of the CoTCCC-recommended HPMK. The insulated variant provides the same CoTCCC-aligned hypothermia prevention capability as the standard HPMK system with enhanced passive thermal retention for cold-weather operations. It is included in the HPMK-I (Insulated) complete kit configuration.
Q: What makes the HRS-I different from the standard HRS?
A: The HRS-I adds a built-in Climashield synthetic insulation layer to the standard HRS 4-ply construction, creating a 5-ply assembly. This insulation layer provides significantly higher passive thermal retention in cold environments, allowing the HRS-I to function as a standalone thermal covering without an active warming liner in many cold-weather scenarios.
Q: Can the HRS-I be used without a self-heating liner?
A: Yes. The Climashield insulation layer in the HRS-I is designed to provide effective standalone passive thermal protection in cold environments. For extreme cold conditions, pairing with an active warming liner (Ready Heat or HPMK liner) provides maximum performance. In moderate cold (0°C to -10°C range), the HRS-I may provide adequate standalone protection depending on casualty condition and evacuation time.
Q: What Climashield rating is used in the HRS-I?
A: The specific Climashield insulation specification for the HRS-I is published by North American Rescue. Climashield synthetic fill maintains loft and insulation performance when wet — a critical property for field applications where the insulation is exposed to precipitation, condensation, and wound drainage.
Q: Is the HRS-I suitable for temperate (non-cold) operations?
A: The HRS-I can be used in temperate environments but adds unnecessary weight and bulk compared to the standard HRS. For operations in warm or temperate climates, the standard HRS is the appropriate choice. Select the HRS-I specifically for cold-weather deployments where the insulation layer provides a meaningful thermal advantage.
Related searches: NAR Heat Reflective Shell Insulated, HRS-I, HPMK-I shell, Ready Heat blanket, Climashield hypothermia shell, North American Rescue ZZ-1452
All products sourced direct from North American Rescue. CoTCCC recommendation status verified where applicable. Ships from MED-TAC International, Pembroke Pines, FL — clinician-founded, veteran-led, SDVOSB-certified.
Specifications coming soon. Contact us for detailed product information.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
