Emergency advice

Cold compress:

Cold pad

  1. Soak flannel in cold water, wring out, and fold.

Ice pack

  1. Use a bag of ice or frozen vegetables wrapped in a dry cloth.
  2. Hold against injury.
  3. Cool the injury for no more than 10 minutes.   

What is a cold compress?

Cooling an injury like a sprain or bruise can help to reduce the swelling and pain. There are two types of compress: ice packs, and cold pads, which can be made from dampening a cloth with cold water.

What to do

Cold pad

  1. Soak a clean cloth or flannel in cold water. Then wring it out lightly and fold into a pad.

    • Hold it firmly against the injured area
  2. Re-soak the cloth every couple of minutes to keep it cool.

    • Do not cool the injury for more than 20 minutes

Ice pack

  1. Use a pack of frozen vegetables or partly fill a plastic bag using small ice cubes or crushed ice. Wrap the bag in a dry cloth.

  2. Hold the pack on the injury and top up with ice to keep it cool.

    • Do not cool the injury for more than 20 minutes

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Related first aid advice

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When you have a wound, you should always cover it with a dressing as this can help to prevent infection. Find out what to do.