How To Treat Insect & Spider Bites

Apply A Cold Compress

It's also easy to make a cold compress from household items. In the event individuals don't have any ice packs at home or in an emergency kit, they can take ice or frozen vegetables, wrap them in a cloth or plastic bag, and then hold the cloth against the area. This should be done ten minutes at a time, and then the compress should be removed for a short time, before compressing again. It's best not press ice directly to the skin as it can stick and actually hurt. Individuals should also be sure to wait two hours between compressions to avoid injuring the rest of their body. They should also dry the area they held the compress against with a towel once they've finished. Applying a cold compress is similar to icing except individuals are not just icing, they are also compressing the area.