A Thermal Protective Aid (TPA) is an aluminized polyethylene suit with heat sealed seams that protects from the elements and prevents
hypothermia
Hypothermia is defined as a body core temperature below in humans. Symptoms depend on the temperature. In mild hypothermia, there is shivering and mental confusion. In moderate hypothermia, shivering stops and confusion increases. In severe h ...
.
It is defined by the International Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code
as follows:
Every survival craft should have 2 thermal protective aid suits or 10% of its total carrying capacity whichever is greater.
[Thermal Protective Aid – Requirements as per SOLAS](_blank)
/ref> For the purpose of high visibility in all weather conditions the suit is coloured in international orange
International orange is a color used in the aerospace industry to set objects apart from their surroundings, similar to safety orange, but deeper and with a more reddish tone.
Variations of international orange
Aerospace
The Advanced Cr ...
.[ Thermal Protective Aid (TPA) and Immersion suits](_blank)
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Some manufacturers currently construct suits with discrete size bands (XS–XXL) and others of a single ‘universal’ size.[MarED Doc-ID 15-541r10 Q LSA 073 200217](_blank)
/ref> Due to its usage conditions it should be suitable to be worn over bulky clothing and lifejacket.
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References
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See also
* Immersion suit
A survival suit, more accurately and currently referred to as an immersion suit, is a type of waterproof dry suit intended to protect the wearer from hypothermia if immersed in cold water or otherwise exposed after abandoning a vessel, especiall ...
* Space blanket
A space blanket (also known as a Mylar blanket, emergency blanket, first aid blanket, safety blanket, thermal blanket, weather blanket, heat sheet, foil blanket, or shock blanket) is an especially low-weight, low-bulk blanket made of heat-refle ...
Safety clothing