"FIRST AIDE TIPS"

Many people have no idea or the wrong idea of what to do, when they suffer an injury. The only thing worse than doing nothing is doing the wrong thing. An injury can easily be made worse, if proper care is avoided. Fortunately, our brain protects (most of) us by sending out pain signals which eventually, if not immediately, convinces us to rest the injured body part. And rest is the first of four simple steps in taking care of an injury. An acronym R.I.C.E. is useful to help remember the four steps.

          Rest: An injury needs rest in order to heal properly. Rest can mean anything from immobilization (sling/cast) to decreasing the intensity of the activity. Immediate full rest is usually the safest decision, but you can let pain be your guide. For example, if you twist(roll over) your ankle while playing soccer and it hurts to stand on it---get off your feet and rest. Once you can stand on your injured foot without significant pain, then you can progress to walking. While resting, proceed to the next step.

         Ice: The immediate application of ice/cold pack will slow down the swelling and inflammation, and help decrease the pain. Ice does not get rid of swelling (a common myth), but it is very effective in stopping swelling (edema), and reducing muscle spasms, inflammation and pain. Ice should never be directly applied to skin. Instead, use a barrier such as a wet towel between the skin and ice. The ice should be secured to the injured site with an elastic wrap (ACE bandage)…which brings us to step three.

          Compression: Compression is as effective, if not more effective than ice in preventing swelling. As with ice, the more quickly compression is applied, the sooner swelling will be controlled. The compression wrap should be applied firmly, but not tight (constrictive). Correct compression of the injured tissue should not cause pain, numbness or more swelling. Swelling can be reduced by…

          Elevation: Raising the injured body part above horizontal, will effectively help reduce swelling. This should be an easy activity to do while resting.

          RICE is an effective way to treat most injuries. Moderate to severe injuries should always be evaluated as soon as possible by the proper medical professional. Common sense and caution will prevent most injuries from getting worse.

          If you have questions regarding the severity of an injury, C.O.A.S.T. Rehab Services offers free screenings during our normal business hours. Please call our office for more information.