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HOMEMADE ‘COLD BOX’ FOR KEEPING VACCINES COLD:
Sometimes vaccines spoil simply because there are not enough thermoses or
‘cold boxes’ to allow each health worker to take them quickly to his or her village.
But there is nothing magic or secret about a cold box. It is a box that has been
insulated or padded so that cold will stay in and heat will stay out. Any box with
insulation can be a cold box.
Insulation is something that
keeps cold air in and hot air out.
Here is a way that you can make
your own cold box:
1. Find a carton that can be covered
—one that has a lid or flaps.
2. Line the bottom and the sides
with insulation. Be sure that
every part is lined, even the
corners.
For insulation you can use . . .
• foam rubber (like for a
mattress) 2 inches or 5 cm.
thick,
• Styrofoam (what radios are
packed in),
• dry grass, rolled up so it is
about 2 inches thick, or
• many layers of old newspaper.