Bumps and Bruises

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Bumps and Bruises

Heat or cold, which should you use to keep swelling down and speed healing of a serious bruising?

Cold will help stop the bleeding under the skin that causes black and blue marks, but only use it in the first 24 hours after a bruise occurs. After that period heat should be applied five or six times a day for the next few days to speed recovery. Moderation is the key word, don’t use anything too hot or too cold, and when icing or heating always use a towel or some kind of cloth as a buffer to protect the skin.
Here are some great tips for the inevitable bump and boo-boo:

Keep a supply of popsicles on hand for bumped lips

You can use a banana peel on a bruise covered by a wet cloth, to prevent excessive discoloration, especially good for black eyes.

A plastic bag of frozen peas is a fantastic flexible compress.

A ballon filled with a mixture of water and alcohol (and covered by towel) will make a great mold to fit cold compress

Finally, fold paper towels into small rectangles, wet them, and keep them individually sealed in small plastic baggies in the freezer and voila! instant handy ice-pack.