Rank: Super forum user 
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Opinions please re 'Cold Packs' and their use for certain first aid situations
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Rank: Forum user
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Bob
Ok ill add my tuppenth worth:
Used to coach a local youth football club and we had cold packs in the first aid kits, hand for reducing pain and swelling from the knocks and bumps the young players received from time to time.
With regards to a work environment then I suppose it depends on what sort of work it is and what sort of injuries occur, I would say that they might be nice/handy to have (if funds permit) but not absolutely necessary. Different people have different pain thresholds and sometimes the cold pack might be of some use.
Failing that perhaps one of those magic sponges and buckets of cold water that they used to use in football would be a good idea; seen many a top class player rolling around in agony, but after the application of the said sponge they suddenly were suddenly free of all pain and able to return to their feet and continue playing as so nothing had happened ;-)
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Rank: Forum user
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I know some forum members will say its a big no no to have anything "extra" in your first aid kit.
However, in the real world even at basic FAAW level treatment for strains and sprains is RICE rest, ice, compression, and elevation.
Just how you provide the "ice" or cooling part of the treatment is irrelevant. if your in retail etc a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel, or leisure ice wrapped in a bar towel is readily available. However if your a remote worker, or your site is remote this is not an option, so cold packs are good for this.
I know were not supposed to have extras in first aid kits, but we need to be real world. And as always it comes down to a risk analysis.
Problem: strain or sprain.
Solution: treat with RICE.
Caveat: No peas or ice available on site
Mitigation: provide a cold pack
Phil
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Rank: Forum user
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Oh for an edit button
Should have read..............handy for reducing pain and swelling
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Rank: Forum user
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smitch wrote:Oh for an edit button
Should have read..............handy for reducing pain and swelling
I thought it was magic hand like magic sponge LOL
Phil
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Phil is the first aid guru follow his advice...
I would add - when working for St John as a volunteer first aider, the most useful bit of kit I carry is ice or ice packs. Not just for RICE but stings, bruises, sun burn (even headaches!)... etc etc
+ for some reason people love to be given something for free - I'm not sure they realise this magic ice isn't really magic and will run out of cold (is that accurate science, surely I must mean run of energy but that looked odd in that context)?
Just make sure if you are putting them on an area with a cut the salt solution doesn't leak out! :)
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Rank: Super forum user 
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There's no rule against having extras in first aid kits as long as they are legitimate extras determined as part of your first aid needs assessment. The standard list is only a guide and you are expected to add to it anything else that you assess you need.
However I agree that some means of cooling down sprained joints is normally needed and that this could equally be ice, peas or a cold pack, whichever is most convenient.
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Rank: Super forum user
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The key point is that if your risk assessment doesn't call for it don't have it in your kit...if you are only operating at a first aider level...even if you are a HCP..(Health Care Practitioner)
Just this week I audited a a guy who had intubation kit from ebay when only a first aider...
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Rank: Forum user
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stevedm wrote:The key point is that if your risk assessment doesn't call for it don't have it in your kit...if you are only operating at a first aider level...even if you are a HCP..(Health Care Practitioner)
Just this week I audited a a guy who had intubation kit from ebay when only a first aider...
Oh Dear!
Intubation, chest drains and thoracostamy are on the 5 day FAAW course. I hope took his badge.
LOL
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Rank: Super forum user
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stevedm wrote:
Just this week I audited a a guy who had intubation kit from ebay when only a first aider...
OMG!!!!!!!!!
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Rank: Super forum user
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Clairel wrote:stevedm wrote:
Just this week I audited a a guy who had intubation kit from ebay when only a first aider...
OMG!!!!!!!!!
Ebay is the best bit about that quote!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have seen odd equipment gathered - I even used a policeman's airway and oxygen kit... (He found it after an RTI and put it in his boot)
But ebay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Rank: Super forum user 
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We keep crack packs (those that you crack and they go cold) and they are probably our most used piece of equipment. Bumps, bruises, strains - good for almost anything! I recommend them.
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Rank: Forum user
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hilary wrote:We keep crack packs (those that you crack and they go cold) and they are probably our most used piece of equipment. Bumps, bruises, strains - good for almost anything! I recommend them.
Wow you must have understanding occy health department.
We cant even have aspirin in our green boxes and you have packs of crack!!!
Phil
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Rank: Super forum user
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How on earth did you think I made it through every day???? What? only me?
I'll get my coat .....
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Rank: Super forum user
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Crack... my lucky day at last!!! Get the guitar and harp out Ma, I'm coming home
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Rank: Forum user
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Zimmy
You’re lucky to still have your musical instruments; on my last trip to the far east I lost mine after a night out at a local club ………………………….think “I left my harp in Sam Pans Disco”
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