Heating Compress is a mild, prolonged application of moist heat of several hours duration.
Effects:
1. Relaxes the muscles.
2. Relieves the pain of the throat and rheumatic joints.
3. Relieves abdominal discomfort.
4. Reduces joint inflammation.
5. A mild heating effect.
Things need:
1. A piece of cotton cloth, folded for moderate thickness, about two inches wide and lone enough to wrap around the neck or joint twice.
2. Piece of flannel cloth, about four inches long and wide enough to wrap around the patient’s joint or neck. A baby’s flannel blanket or diaper, folded lengthwise, will be just right for the knees.
3. Two safety pins.
4. If medicated compress is ordered, use he medication prescribed. A commercial vaporub may be used in the process.
Procedure:
1. Soak cloth with tap water. Wring and put around the neck or joint twice. Be sure that the wet cloth is neither too wet nor too dry. If medicated compress is applied, rub area with prescribed medication or ointment. Do not wet the cloth with water but wrap the cloth around the area dry after the medication is applied.
2. Apply compress smoothly and quickly to avoid chilling.
3. With the piece of flannel cloth, wrap compress snugly to exclude air and pin securely on the side of the neck or joint.
4. Leave compress on overnight or at least 6-8 hours before removing it.
5. Take care that the compress is not too tight so it does not interfere with the blood circulation in the area which heating compress is applied.
6. Rub the area with a cloth wrung out of cold water (tap water) immediately after removing the heating compress in the morning or after 6-8 hours.
7. Dry area thoroughly. Compress may be applied once or twice a day.
Note: It is best to apply a heating compress at night just before sleeping.
Effects:
1. Relaxes the muscles.
2. Relieves the pain of the throat and rheumatic joints.
3. Relieves abdominal discomfort.
4. Reduces joint inflammation.
5. A mild heating effect.
Things need:
1. A piece of cotton cloth, folded for moderate thickness, about two inches wide and lone enough to wrap around the neck or joint twice.
2. Piece of flannel cloth, about four inches long and wide enough to wrap around the patient’s joint or neck. A baby’s flannel blanket or diaper, folded lengthwise, will be just right for the knees.
3. Two safety pins.
4. If medicated compress is ordered, use he medication prescribed. A commercial vaporub may be used in the process.
Procedure:
1. Soak cloth with tap water. Wring and put around the neck or joint twice. Be sure that the wet cloth is neither too wet nor too dry. If medicated compress is applied, rub area with prescribed medication or ointment. Do not wet the cloth with water but wrap the cloth around the area dry after the medication is applied.
2. Apply compress smoothly and quickly to avoid chilling.
3. With the piece of flannel cloth, wrap compress snugly to exclude air and pin securely on the side of the neck or joint.
4. Leave compress on overnight or at least 6-8 hours before removing it.
5. Take care that the compress is not too tight so it does not interfere with the blood circulation in the area which heating compress is applied.
6. Rub the area with a cloth wrung out of cold water (tap water) immediately after removing the heating compress in the morning or after 6-8 hours.
7. Dry area thoroughly. Compress may be applied once or twice a day.
Note: It is best to apply a heating compress at night just before sleeping.
