Cooling Compresses

Cooling compresses are special medical tools used for cold compression therapy. This therapy combines two principles of ice, rest, elevation, and compressions to reduce swelling and pain from injury or sports activity.

The cooling compresses are particular types of gel or ice packs in the shape of portable plastic bags. These bags are filled with water, liquid, or refrigerant gel. The content is frozen in a freezer and later used on the infected parts of the body. Generally, they are used to alleviate the pain that results in minor injuries or bags under the eyes. To do so, you will need to apply the cold compress on the swollen, inflamed or pain area for a given time as recommended by a doctor. The cooling content in the pack helps to reduce the metabolic activities in the muscles of the body. As a result, they help you relieve pain and recover fast.

Everything you need to know about using a cold compress

The human body is prone to damage, yet you can bring it back to its best with proper care. Almost every one of us has to deal with minor injuries, hits, bruises now and then, and these are times when we all need the best first aid products . An ice pack is one such medical equipment that can be a part of your first aid kit and help you get rid of the pain and swellings without consulting any medical expert. Just by putting together a cold compress, you can get instant relief in less than minutes. However, there are some important points that you need to know about these special health care items. Let us discuss.

The benefits of cooling compresses

These packs generally contain water or gel content that converts to ice when kept in lower temperatures—this cold content help in decreasing inflammation and stopping bleeding from an injury. For the same reason, they are also helpful in offering better first aid until professional help arrives. In case of an accident or collision, these packs can help you get rid of the bruising sooner than expected. For their swift results, these packs are a must-have in the car and home first-aid kits. For travelling, you can opt for instant cold packs that contain special chemicals. These chemicals activate when you squeeze the pack.

How to use a cold compress

Cold compresses usually come forth for help in case of emergencies.  It is ideal to ice the injury within the first 48 hours. In case of any damage, all you need to do is wrap the ice pack in a small towel or piece of cloth with reasonable thickness and press gently on the swollen area. You should avoid keeping it on your skin for more than 20 minutes at a time. For severe damage, you can alternate between 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off. You can also keep the icing for days, depending on the condition. But if it is not relieving the pain or slowing the bruises, consult the doctor for a suggestion.

Using cold compress for eyes, fever and more

You can place a cold compress on any part of your body. However, some delicate parts like eyes do need special care and adult supervision while using these packs. This is more important if you are using a gel-based ice pack. The gel can irritate if it gets in contact with the eyes. Besides some basic care instructions, these packs have the best healing properties in severe headaches, gout pain, fever, muscular pain, fatigue, tendonitis, haemorrhoids, and certain types of eye allergies. However, you should consult professionals for any serious medical condition or pain before using these bags for a long time.

Risk of using cooling compresses

Using cooling compresses is the easiest way to treat any minor injury or pain at home. However, there can be many side effects that come if you are not using the compress properly. To avoid any bad experience, you should never apply the bag directly to the skin. By doing so, it will stick and burn your skin, causing further injury. Also, avoid keeping ice on one part of the body for too long, as it can lead to frostbites. Also, remember that your body can undergo many changes by using an ice pack, so prefer using a cold compress of severe injuries only.