Ice pack or cold pack
Ice packs can be made by following these steps:
- Put about 0.5 kg (1 lb) of ice in a plastic bag.
- Add enough water to barely cover the ice.
- Squeeze the air out of the bag and seal it.
- Wrap the bag in a wet towel and apply it to the painful area.
- Use the ice pack for up to 15 minutes at a time.
You can make cold packs from items found in your freezer or you can buy commercial cold packs.
- Ice bags or bags of frozen peas are inexpensive, last 10 to 20 minutes, and mould well to your body.
- Cold packs (vinyl-coated silica gel) are lightweight, mould to your body, and last for 20 to 30 minutes. (If the chemical inside leaks out, you may get a chemical burn.)
| Author: | Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC | Last Updated: January 30, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine Arden Christen, DDS, MSD, MA, FACD - Dentistry Steven K. Patterson, BSc, DDS, MPH - Dentist | |
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