nursing foundation

1. HOT AND COLD
APPLICATION
PRESENTED BY:
MONAL PARMAR
M.Sc NURSING

2. HOT APPLICATION
• Hot application is the application of a hot
agent, warmer than skin either in a moist or
dry from on the surface of the body.

3. PURPOSE
To relive pain and congestion
To provide warmth
To promote healing
To decrease muscle tone
To soften the exudates

5. COLD APPLICATION
• Cold application is the application
of a cold agent cooler than skin
either in a moist or dry form, on
the surface of the skin.

6. PURPOSE
To reduce pain and body temperature, ,
To control hemorrhage,
To control the growth of bacteria,
To prevent gangrene,
To prevent edema and
To reduce inflammation

8. Classification of temperature
Temperature Fahrenheit
Very cold 32 to 55 F
Cold 55 to 65 F
Cool 65 to 80 F
Neutral 80 to 92 F
Warm 92 to 98 F
Hot 98 to 104 F
Very hot 104 F

10. Hot & cold
pack
ICE BAG
Hot water
bag

11. TRANSFER OF ENERGY
• Conduction: Contact
• Convection: movement
• Evaporation: through liquid-gas transfer
• Radiation: electromagnetic waves
• Conversion: transfer from one energy type to
another

12. PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
COLD APPLICATION HOT APPLICATION
Peripheral vasoconstriction Peripheral vasodilatation
Decreased capillary permeability Increased capillary permeability
Decreased oxygen consumption Increased oxygen consumption
Decreased local metabolism Increased local metabolism
Increased blood viscosity Decreased blood viscosity
Decreased muscle tone Decreased muscle tone
Decreased blood flow Increased blood flow
Decreased lymph flow Increase Lymph flow
Decreased motility of
leucocytes
Increase motility of leucocytes

13. SYSTEMATIC EFFECTS OF HEAT
Heat applied on large body
area
Excessive peripheral
vasodilatation
Drop in blood pressure
Fainting attack

14. SYSTEMATIC EFFECTS OF
COLD
Excessive
cold
applications
Vasoconstrictio
ns
Increase
of blood
pressure
Shivering

15. FACTORS AFFECTING HEAT AND
COLD TOLERANCE
• Body part: Certain areas of the skin have a sensitivity to
temperature variations. The inner aspect of the wrist and
forearm, the neck, and the perineal area are temperature-
sensitive, while the back of the hand and the foot are not as
sensitive.
• Duration of application: Therapeutic benefits of heat and
cold applications are achieved with short periods of
exposure to temperature variations. Tolerance increases as the
length of exposure increases.

16. • Area of body exposed: The larger the area exposed to
heat and cold, the lower the tolerance to temperature
changes.
• Damage to body surface area: Injured skin areas are
more sensitive than intact areas to temperature variations.
• Age: Thinner skin layers in children and elderly people
increase the risk for burns from the heat and cold
applications.

17. • Individual tolerance: Tolerance to temperature
variations is affected by age and physical condition.
The young and the aged are especially susceptible to
heat and cold.

18. HOT APPLICATION
INDICATION
Decreases pain
Decreases muscle tone
Promote healing
Relives deep congestion
Softens the exudates
Provide warmth
Stimulates peristalsis

19. CONTRAINDICATION
• Malignancies
• Impaired kidney, heart & lung functions
• Acutely inflammed areas
• On clients with paralysis
• Open wounds
• Edema associated with venous or lymphatic diseases
• Headache
• Client with metabolic disorders
• Client with very high temperature

20. COMPLICATIONS
• Pain
• Burns
• Redness of the skin
• Edema
• Pallor (secondary effect)
• Hyperthermia

21. COLD APPLICATION
INDICATION
Therapeutic Uses Of Local Cold Applications
• Relieves pain
• Prevent gangrene
• Prevent edema & reduce inflammation
• Control hemorrhage
• Control the growth of bacteria
• Reduces the body temperature

22.  CONTRAINDICATION
• Client in the state of shock & collapse
• Edema
• Diseases associated with impaired circulation
• Muscle spasm
• Decreased sensation
• Client have shivering or having very low temperature
• Cold hypersensitivity or intolerance

23.  COMPLICATION
• Tissue Death
• Frost Bite
• Nerve damage :- Unwanted vasodilation due to
prolonged vasoconstriction, ischemia, thromboses in
smaller vessels.
• Freezing of tissues

24. Guidelines in application of hot and
cold application
• Check the order, check armband
• Assess general condition of the patient
• Assess the skin area where application going
• Check functioning of equipment
• Reassess patient and response in 15 minutes
• Stop treatment at designated time
• Examine the place where the treatment will occur.
• Record the patient’s response

25. Safety measures “DO’S”
• Do explain to the patient sensations to be felt during the
procedure
• Do instruct the patient to report changes in sensation or
discomfort immediately
• Do provide a timer, clock, or watch so that the patient can
help the nurse time the application
• Do keep the call light within the patients reach
• Do refer to the hospital’s policy and procedure manual for
safe temperatures

26. Safety measures “DON’T’S”
• Do not allow the patient to adjust the temperature
• Do not allow the patient to move an application
• Do not place the patient in a position that prevents
movement away from the temperature source
• Do not leave unattended a patient who is
neurological impaired.