A deformed or misshapen body part. For example, a visible bend in the forearm would indicate a broken arm. Severe pain that gets worse when the body part is moved or pressure is applied. Loss of function in the injured area. Often the area below a broken bone will lose some or all motion. Someone with a broken leg may find it difficult to move his foot. Bone protruding from the skin. Some serious fractures push the broken bone through the skin.
A visibly deformed or out of place joint. Bruising or swelling around a joint. Severe pain. Immobility. It is often difficult or impossible to move areas below the dislocated joint.
Loss of consciousness. Even if you only lose consciousness for a few seconds, this could be a sign of a serious injury and you should seek medical help immediately. Severe headache. Confusion, dizziness, and disorientation. Nausea or vomiting. Ringing in ears. Slurred or labored speech.
Apply ice directly after an injury takes place. Within the first 48 hours of an injury, ice is usually the best treatment. It will help reduce swelling, pain, and signs of inflammation. Heat is useful for sore muscles not associated with a specific injury. You can also apply heat to your muscles before an activity or sport that often makes you sore to loosen and warm them up.
Gel-based ice packs. These are full of gel that stays cold when placed in the freezer. Typically these compresses get much colder than the other options since they stay in the freezer. They are also reusable, which is appealing for cost purposes. However, they generally can only be used at home since they start heating up when taken out of the freezer. Instant cold packs. These are filled with two different chemicals separated by plastic. When squeezed, the plastic breaks, causing the two chemicals to react and get cold. Unlike gel packs, these are portable and can be used anywhere as long as the chemicals haven’t touched each other yet. This makes them ideal to have on hand for sporting events. They aren’t reusable, however. Homemade ice bags. Take a large plastic bag and fill it with ice cubes. Then fill it with just enough water to cover the ice cubes. Squeeze out the air and seal the bag. These are good in a pinch if you don’t have a store-bought ice pack. However, they don’t last as long and the condensation on the outside of the bag can get you wet. [7] X Research source Bags of frozen vegetables. Use bags of smaller vegetables, such as peas or corn, since they will be easier to wrap around the wounded area. Wrap the bag in a cloth before putting it against your skin. You can leave the compress on for up 20 minutes. Ice towels. This is another homemade method you can use. Wet a towel and then wring it out so that it’s just damp. Place it in a plastic bag and then leave it in the freezer for 15 minutes. You can then wrap it around the injured area. This option also won’t last very long so you’ll have to keep putting it in the freezer to keep it cold. [8] X Research source
If necessary, you can secure the ice pack with a non-stick bandage or wrap. Loosely wrap this around the ice pack and the injured area. Be sure not to tie this too tight, or you could cut off circulation. If the limb starts to turn blue/purple, the wrap is too tight and should be removed immediately. Keep in mind that a tingling sensation does not necessarily indicate the wrap is too tight — this sensation may be caused by the injury itself.
If you used a chemical cold pack, discard it after use. Check to see that your compress can be simply thrown away and does not contain materials that need to be disposed of in a specific way. If you used a gel pack or towel, place it back in the freezer to prepare it for your next round of treatment.
