Using Ice Packs to Reduce A Fever

We’re heading into February which means were still in the thick of cold, flu, and of course, COVID season. What do all of these things have in common? A fever! If you feel yourself warming up, and can’t get to the doctor right away, you can use an ice pack cold compress to help lower your body temperature.

It’s important to note that if you have a high fever (103 F) or it has prolonged for 3-days or more, you should skip these instructions and head right to the doctor! Using an ice pack for fever is not a substitution for medical care, but it can be a very effective way to lower your body temperature and keep yourself comfortable in the meantime.

You can use a cold pack for fever on a few areas of your body: Under the arms, on the wrists, or on the head/neck area.

Underarm Ice Packs

Placing icepacks under the arms is a common way to deal with hyperthermia, or high body temperature. This method is most often used in cases when a person’s body temperature has been raised due to external heat or physical exhaustion – the cold packs help safely return the body temperature back to normal.

Whereas with an illness-related fever, underarm ice packs will usually offer a temporary solution.

Using Cold Packs for Fever on the Wrists

Using ice packs on the wrists is an effective way to bring down your body temperature because there is a high concentration of blood vessels. The ice pack will help to cool the blood as it travels through the wrist location and throughout the rest of the body, effectively lowering the body temperature.

Forehead Ice Packs for Fever

The head, face, and neck areas are typically where a person feels the physical effects of a fever the most – that’s why your mom used to touch your forehead to see if you were running a temperature!

Placing a cold pack on your head and neck area can bring instant relief when you have a fever and aid in reducing your body temperature.

Protect Your Skin

It is possible to get frostbite from a cold pack if you leave it in one place for too long. It’s recommended to wrap the ice pack in a small towel (or paper towel) if it feels too cold on your skin, and only leave it in place for 20-minutes at a time.

Using Ice Packs with Fever Reducer

An ice pack can be an excellent way to supplement your fever reducing medication so that you’re more comfortable in between doses or don’t feel the need to medicate yourself all day long. However, you should stick to the medication schedule set by your doctor if you’ve been prescribed antibiotics to kick a fever-causing illness.

We have plenty of options for ice packs that are great to aid in reducing your fever! There are cold packs for kids, small cold packs with a strap that you can secure to your body, and large ones, too! All of these ice packs are soft and reusable so you can have some peace of mind knowing that you’ll always have a source of comfort in your freezer.