When should you apply ice to an injured area?

• A. Only after the initial bleeding control phase; use a thin barrier (cloth) between ice and skin and limit application to 10-15 minutes.
• B. Before any bleeding control.
• C. After full recovery.
• D. Directly on skin for 30 minutes.

Answer: (A)

Ice therapy helps limit swelling and numb pain after an acute injury by causing the blood vessels to tighten, reducing fluid buildup in the area. The best approach is to apply cold only after you’ve started bleeding control, using a barrier like a thin cloth between the ice and the skin to prevent frostbite. Keep the cold application short—about 10-15 minutes—and you can repeat as advised during the early phase of the injury. Never apply ice directly to the skin, and don’t use cold therapy after the area has fully recovered or as a first step before stopping bleeding.