First-year nursing : a text-book for pupils during their first year of hospital work . ch are almost certain to cut through the bag;some ice is wasted by doing this, but ice is cheap, andice bags are expensive and cannot be satisfactorilymended. If two bags are being filled at one time, becareful that the covers do not get exchanged; a coverwhich does not quite fit is apt to leak. Always put a thin towel or two thicknesses of gauzebetween an ice bag and the skin. If the bag goes onthe head this is not necessary unless there are baldplaces or the hair is very thin. Ice bags should nearly EXTERN
First-year nursing : a text-book for pupils during their first year of hospital work . ch are almost certain to cut through the bag;some ice is wasted by doing this, but ice is cheap, andice bags are expensive and cannot be satisfactorilymended. If two bags are being filled at one time, becareful that the covers do not get exchanged; a coverwhich does not quite fit is apt to leak. Always put a thin towel or two thicknesses of gauzebetween an ice bag and the skin. If the bag goes onthe head this is not necessary unless there are baldplaces or the hair is very thin. Ice bags should nearly EXTERNAL APPLICATIONS 159 always be bandaged on or fastened in some way, asthey become displaced very readily. After use, an ice bag should be drained upside down,and packed with toilet paper to absorb any remainingmoisture. Cold Compresses.—If these are to be applied continu-ously, the nurse must give them her entire attention,as they need to be changed every few minutes if theyare to remain cold. The material for them should bethin, so that evaporation may aid in the cooling Fig. 36.—Putting cold compresses on eyes Cold compresses should be thin-Hot applications should be made cloths for the head should not be more thanfour thicknesses of gauze or of a very thin are wrung out of very cold water, dry enoughso that they will not drip, and are to be changed everytwo or three minutes. Cold compresses for the eye may be of gauze or absor-bent cotton; they should be cut neatly, of an oval shape, 160 FIRST YEAR NURSING large enough to cover the eye well but not to extendover the nose or face. A block of ice is laid in a basin,the compresses wetted and laid over it, a good supply-being kept. Each compress is lifted with the fingers,squeezed gently to remove any excess of water, andplaced over the eye. They should be changed everyone and a half or two minutes, or as soon as they becomewarm. Cold compresses are used in inflammatory conditionsof the
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