Ankle Sprain This shows a sprained ankle. The ankle and foot are swollen because they were not wrapped with an elastic bandage right after the injury.
First Aid Care Advice for Ankle Sprain:
- Wrap with a snug elastic bandage.
- Apply an ice pack (crushed ice in a plastic bag covered with a towel) to reduce swelling and pain.
First Aid - R.I.C.E. RICE is a way to remember the steps for taking care of a sprain, strain, or bruise. There are four things you should do:
- REST the injured part of your body for 24 hours. Can return to normal activity after 24 hours of rest if the activity does not cause severe pain.
- Apply a cold pack or an ICE bag (wrapped in a moist towel) to the area for 20 minutes. Repeat in 1 hour, then every 4 hours while awake.
- Apply COMPRESSION by wrapping the injured part with a snug, elastic bandage for 48 hours. If numbness, tingling, or increased pain occurs in the injured part, the bandage may be too tight. Loosen the bandage wrap.
- Keep the injured part of the body ELEVATED and at rest for 24 hours. For example, for an injured ankle, place that leg up on a pillow and stay off the feet as much as possible.