Instructions
- : Wear gloves when adding chemicals, as they may cause serious burns.
- Step 1: Cut fabric Cut a piece of flannel fabric 8 1/2 inches by 4 1/2 inches, and fold it in half with the short sides of the fabric together.
- Step 2: Sew the sides Sew the 2 opposite open sides together with a needle and thread to form a pouch, and turn the pouch inside-out.
- Step 3: Fill pouch Fill the pouch 3/4 full with uncooked rice before folding in the open edges 1/4 inch and using an overstitch to sew the top closed.
- TIP: Use brown rice rather than white rice to better hold heat.
- Step 4: Heat in microwave Heat hand warmers in a microwave oven for 10 seconds before placing them inside your gloves to keep hands warm for up to 120 minutes.
- TIP: Avoid overheating hand warmers to prevent burns.
- Step 5: Make an alternative Make a wool or felt pouch you fill with ceramic pie weights instead of rice as an alternative method, and increase microwave time to 2 minutes.
- Step 6: Make a chemical hand warmer Make a chemical hand warmer by placing a sealable plastic bag inside a second one, and adding 1/2 ounce powdered calcium oxide to the inner bag along with 2 teaspoons water.
- Step 7: Seal bags Seal both bags before massaging the contents until you feel warmth, but be prepared to drop the bags in a bucket of cold water if they become too hot. Now, tuck the warmer into gloves and make for the outdoors knowing you’ve beaten Old Man Winter at his own game.
- FACT: Frostbite accounted for 10 percent of all American casualties during World War II and the Korean conflict.
You Will Need
- Rubber or latex gloves
- Flannel
- wool
- or felt fabric
- Scissors
- Needle and thread
- Rice
- Ceramic pie weights
- Sealable plastic bags
- Calcium oxide
- Bucket
- Water
