Cold Compress Procedures
farmeric November 9th, 2011
Cold compress is a cloth wrung or twisted from cold or ice water which may be applied to any part of the body surface.
Benefits of Cold Compress:
- Relieves pain due to edema or trauma.
- Prevents and relieves head congestion.
- Slows heart rate if applied over the heart.
- Constrict blood vessels, decreasing local blood flow.
- Decreases tendency to bleed due to vaso-constriction.
- Lowers body temperature when applied over at least fourth of body surface, or when applied on the forehead or nape.
- Stops nosebleed when applied on the nasal area.
Things Needed for Cold Compress
- Washcloth or face towel or any clean piece of cloth. The size should be proportionate to the area to be treated. For convulsions use bath towels.
- A basin of ice water, 2/3 full.
- One bath towel
Cold Compress Procedures
- Wring compress cloth from ice water. Be sure it does not drip.
- Apply snugly on the area to be treated.
- Change or renew compress every 2-3 minutes.
- Treatment time for decongestion - 20-30 minutes; for fever - continuously, or as long as there is fever.
- At the end of the treatment, dry body part thoroughly with the towel and avoid chilling.
