Supply
Cost: Under $50
These cost ranges are approximate and may vary from region to region.
Additional charges may also apply.
Instant Cold Pack
Cost: Under $50
These cost ranges are approximate and may vary from region to region.
Additional charges may also apply.
Summary
Summary
An instant cold pack is a single-use plastic pouch containing dry chemicals and a separate water bladder. When you squeeze or strike the pack, the inner bladder ruptures and a chemical reaction rapidly chills the pack without any need for ice or refrigeration. The 6" x 9" size is large enough to cover a useful area on a limb, over a joint, or against a fresh area of swelling, and it stores flat in a first aid kit indefinitely.
I would recommend using an instant cold pack as a first-response tool for a fresh strain, bruise, kick injury, or new swelling when you are away from ice and cold water — in the trailer, at a show, or on the trail.
You activate the pack, place a thin layer of cloth or bandage material between the pack and the skin, and hold or bandage it snugly against the area. You never apply the pack directly to bare skin, because the initial temperature can be cold enough to damage tissue.
Do keep the limitations in mind. An instant pack stays usefully cold for only about 15 to 20 minutes and does not provide the deep, sustained cooling of cold water or ice immersion, so it is not adequate for treating or preventing laminitis.
It is strictly a one-time-use item: once activated, it cannot be recharged. If a pack is punctured or leaking, discard it — the chemical contents are irritating and should never be left where a horse could ingest them.
Skill 145 — Apply Cold Water with Hose to an Area (related context)
Supply 105 — Ice Wraps (overlapping content in its 2nd paragraph — consider trimming)
An instant cold pack is a single-use plastic pouch containing dry chemicals and a separate water bladder. When you squeeze or strike the pack, the inner bladder ruptures and a chemical reaction rapidly chills the pack without any need for ice or refrigeration. The 6" x 9" size is large enough to cover a useful area on a limb, over a joint, or against a fresh area of swelling, and it stores flat in a first aid kit indefinitely.
I would recommend using an instant cold pack as a first-response tool for a fresh strain, bruise, kick injury, or new swelling when you are away from ice and cold water — in the trailer, at a show, or on the trail.
You activate the pack, place a thin layer of cloth or bandage material between the pack and the skin, and hold or bandage it snugly against the area. You never apply the pack directly to bare skin, because the initial temperature can be cold enough to damage tissue.
Do keep the limitations in mind. An instant pack stays usefully cold for only about 15 to 20 minutes and does not provide the deep, sustained cooling of cold water or ice immersion, so it is not adequate for treating or preventing laminitis.
It is strictly a one-time-use item: once activated, it cannot be recharged. If a pack is punctured or leaking, discard it — the chemical contents are irritating and should never be left where a horse could ingest them.
Skill 145 — Apply Cold Water with Hose to an Area (related context)
Supply 105 — Ice Wraps (overlapping content in its 2nd paragraph — consider trimming)