Aerocool Instant Ice Pack Large – 240g

Aerocool Instant Ice Packs use an endothermic chemical reaction to generate cold on demand. The pack contains two components — typically water and a salt such as ammonium nitrate or urea — separated by an inner pouch. When you squeeze the pack to break the inner pouch and shake to mix the components, the chemicals dissolve into the water in a reaction that absorbs heat from the surrounding environment — including the outer surface of the pack itself. This absorption of thermal energy causes the pack's outer surface to rapidly cool, reaching temperatures suitable for cold therapy within seconds. No electricity, no freezer, and no preparation are required.

NOT FOUND — please confirm the duration of cooling for the Aerocool large 240g pack from product documentation and update this answer. As a general guide for instant ice packs of this type, the cooling effect typically lasts between 15 and 30 minutes depending on the ambient temperature and the pack size. The large 240g format generally maintains its cold for longer than smaller packs due to the greater volume of reacting material. Use within the 20-minute application guideline regardless of how cold the pack feels, as the risk of skin injury does not reduce simply because the pack is still cold.

The large 240g pack provides a greater contact surface area, making it more appropriate for injuries affecting a larger zone — a swollen knee, bruised thigh, strained shoulder, or any significant soft tissue injury where a small pack would leave a substantial part of the injury uncovered. Cold therapy is most effective when the entire injured area is cooled, not just the most painful central point. For smaller injuries such as a sprained finger, insect sting, or minor bump, the small 80g pack is more practical and proportionate. Both sizes are useful to have in a well-stocked first aid kit.

Yes, with appropriate precautions. Cold therapy is a standard and appropriate first aid measure for soft tissue injuries in children. However, children's skin is thinner and more sensitive to cold injury than adult skin, and young children cannot always communicate discomfort reliably. Always place a cloth between the pack and the child's skin, apply for no longer than 10 to 15 minutes at a time for younger children rather than the full 20 minutes, check the skin every few minutes during application, and supervise continuously throughout. Keep the pack out of the child's hands to prevent unsupervised use or the pack being bitten or ruptured.

If the inner pouch leaks and chemical content contacts skin during activation, rinse the affected area immediately and thoroughly with large amounts of cool running water for at least 10 to 15 minutes. Remove any contaminated clothing. If the eyes are affected, rinse continuously with clean water and seek medical advice promptly. If any content is swallowed, contact NHS 111 or a Poisons Information Service immediately and follow their instructions. Do not induce vomiting unless specifically directed by a medical professional.

An instant ice pack does not reach as low a temperature as a properly frozen ice pack, but for the purpose of acute first aid cold therapy — reducing swelling and providing pain relief in the first 20 to 30 minutes after a soft tissue injury — it is clinically effective and often more practical. The key advantage is immediate availability anywhere without the need for a freezer, which matters greatly at a sports pitch, in a workplace, in a school, or in any setting where a freezer is not immediately accessible. For ongoing cold therapy at home after the initial first aid phase, a reusable gel pack kept in the freezer may provide a more sustained cooling option.

Yes — the PRICE protocol for soft tissue injuries (Protection, Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) recommends combining cold therapy with compression and elevation for the most effective management of acute sprains and strains. Apply the cold pack first, with a protective layer between the pack and the skin, and apply a compression bandage over or alongside it if the injury is on a limb. Take care not to apply the compression bandage so tightly that it restricts circulation — you should be able to slide two fingers under it comfortably. Browse our range of bandages and wound care supplies for suitable compression bandage options.