On the cold front

Cold kills more people than all other weather-related causes combined, according to the National Center for Environmental Health. People in areas with milder winters can be at a greater danger than those in frigid climates because they aren’t always as prepared for severe situations.

XeroGear, a Wilmington, Del., manufacturer of portable personal protection equipment, has an answer: XeroVest, an emergency garment that is compact and weighs just two ounces, making it easy to carry in a backpack, pocket or glove compartment.

XeroVest warms the body using inflatable, air-insulated technology, featuring a network of cross-connected cells that inflate quickly through a simple one-way mouthpiece on the vest’s collar. Inflation creates a warm, insulating layer of trapped air, while conforming to the person’s shape to keep the body’s core warmer longer to prevent hypothermia. The body’s core stays insulated while moist air escapes through the vest’s integrated vent holes. Made of two layers of metalized nylon to block wind and rain, the vest also keeps the wearer dry.