The main benefits of instant ice packs are that they can be used at anytime, anywhere, when you need them. No freezer or pre-planning required. This makes them perfect for physios at matches who can activate and use them only when a player gets injured and requires some cold therapy.
The cold pack acts to limit the onset of swelling and inflammation and stops blood loss as it restricts the circulation of blood vessels. Ice also has a powerful pain-relieving effect and stops bruising from forming.
Instant ice packs are at room temperature until they become cold due to an internal chemical reaction caused by pressing it, making them ideal for your first aid kit.
As with all ice packs it is important to never keep the ice pack in direct contact with the skin, but always use a soft cloth as a 'shield' between the skin and the ice.
Apply the cold ice pack to the affected area for no more than 20 minutes. Once removed, gently dry the skin and give your body time to recuperate its usual temperature.
Cold ice packs can be repeatedly used if necessary, until the swelling disappears. If you don’t seen an improvement after 48/72 hours or feel too much pain, contact a doctor immediately.
If you have suffered an injury, you can follow the RICE protocol, an acronym that stands for:
• Rest
• Ice - apply ice;
• Compress - wrap the injured area with an elastic bandage;
• Elevate - try to keep the part affected by pain raised a little to allow the swelling to drain away.
Instant Ice packs can relieve various types of pain: headaches, muscle strains, muscle sprains, tendonitis, fever, eye allergies, etc.
Using cold packs is one of the easiest ways to treat an injury. There are, however, some side effects to watch out for:
• Don’t apply ice directly in contact with the skin. You could give yourself a cold burn.
• Don’t keep ice for too long on the painful area. You might cause it to freeze.
• Don’t use an ice pack on serious injuries - you could worsen the situation.
• Don’t use ice packs if you suffer from diabetes or Raynaud’s syndrome.
• If you suffer from problems such as arthritis, muscle stiffness, or chronic pain, do not use ice. A warm pack might work better in this instance.