Follow these steps to make an ice pack:
- Put about
1 lb (0.5 kg) 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 damp 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 mold well to your body.
- Cold packs
(vinyl-coated silica gel) are lightweight, mold to your body, and last for 20
to 30 minutes. (If the chemical inside leaks out, you may get a chemical
burn.)
|
By
|
Healthwise Staff |
|
Primary Medical Reviewer
|
William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine |
|
Specialist Medical Reviewer
|
H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine |
|
Last Revised
|
July 20, 2012 |