Applying a cold compress
The setting of a cold compress or lotion is used to reduce pain, to prevent the spread of hematomas and to reduce body temperature during fever.
Indications for cold compresses:
- the first hours after bruises and other injuries;
- nose bleed;
- second period of fever;
- inflammatory processes in the mammary glands;
- acute inflammatory processes in the mammary glands;
- hematomas.
Contraindications
- Diabetes.
- Skin diseases.
- Cold intolerance.
- Chills (it is necessary to wait until the patient is completely warm).
The setting of cold compresses and lotions is carried out according to the doctor's prescription. Unlike warm compresses, cold compresses do not close.
Cold compress equipment:
- a container with water at a temperature of 14 - 16 degrees;
- gauze napkins 4-layer or fabric napkins, you can take a towel;
- kidney tray;
- water thermometer;
- gloves;
- disinfectant container.
Sequencing
- We wash our hands and put on gloves.
- We release the necessary area of the patient's skin for setting the compress.
- Wet a washcloth with water and squeeze lightly.
- We apply a napkin to the prepared area of the patient's skin.
- Dip a second washcloth in a bowl of cold water and wring it out.
- We replace the first napkin with the second.
- We change napkins every 2-3 minutes.
- The duration of the procedure is from 10 minutes to 1 hour.
- At the end of the procedure, remove the compress and carefully wipe the patient's skin.
- At the end of the setting of the cold compress, we immerse the dressing material (napkins), the used tray and the water thermometer in a container with a disinfectant solution.
- Take off your gloves and wash your hands.
- Dressing material and gloves, as well as the tray, are immersed in a container with a disinfectant solution.
The setting of a cold compress is based on local cold exposure, which causes narrowing of the superficial and deep blood vessels. In this case, a decrease in blood supply occurs, which helps to stop bleeding, reduce inflammation, reduce the sensitivity of nerve endings, which helps to reduce pain.
During the procedure, it is important to ensure that cold water does not drip onto the patient's skin or hair, and that the napkin is not wet, but damp so that the mattress and couch (bed) do not get wet.
It is necessary to ensure that the patient does not have chills. In case of chills, a hot foot bath should be used.
A poultice is a variant of a cold compress . In this case, the napkin is wetted not with water, but with a cold medicinal solution. Lotions are used in acute inflammatory processes on the skin, accompanied by itching, weeping, pain.
