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Tuesday 26 July 2011

Make a Reusable Ice Bag


Many of my patients have acute injuries or swelling after surgery and frequently follow the R.I.C.E. principle to control inflammation.  This involves using rest, ice, compression, and elevation to decrease swelling.  When applying ice,most often people simply put ice in a plastic bag, seal it up and put it on their body. After a few minutes the ice melts and the bag is put back in the freezer, only to come out later as a giant ice cube. This makes it very difficult to comfortably apply the ice bag to the body again.

Here is a recipe for a homemade reusable ice pack:
Put ice cubes or chopped ice in a bag and add about two to three tablespoons of rubbing alcohol. Seal the bag, wrap it in a towel and apply it to the inflamed body part. Apply the ice for 15-20 minutes, but be sure your body doesn't get too cold. When you put the bag in the freezer, the alcohol prevents the ice from fully freezing and clumping. The ice pack can then be used over and over again.
By Brett Sears, About.com Guide   July 16, 2011

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