[Praiser]

I don't think I would trust my elementary kids with a bag of rice. The teacher's would throw a hissy fit if they opened it and got rice all over the place !

[sChOOLRN48]

COLLATERAL!! I never thought of that! I am totally going to do that next year! Like thier planner! ooohh! I am so doing that!

I am also going to make rice bags for next year. I can't tell you how many little girls cry to mommy about thier cramps and really all they need is a little heat...they are going to have to deal with this for the rest of thier lives (lucky us! & I mean that both sarcastically and that we are really lucky to be women!) With washable covers...I wouldn't mind taking the cover home to wash...ask me next year when the rice bags are a hit!

[kidsnurse1969]

My favorite "pacifier" for the invisible injury needing an ice pack is to give the student a cold paper towel (I keep a supply of wet paper towels in a refrigerator). Paper towels are not as dramatic as ice packs (there goes the fun). They are disposable (no more excuses to leave the class to return the ice pack). I don't have to worry about cleaning them. They are cheap! They provide tangible TLC. They work GREAT!

[Lovetodecorate]

I have a collection of frozen ketchup packets to give for small owies. After they are done, they can just throw them away in class.

[DDRN4me]

I did the frozen sponge thing for years..told them I didnt want to see it back till after school... most of the time I would get them myself from the teachers after school.
I worked with dd kids who cant always tell me what is exactly wrong so almost everyone gets a temp for any illness.

[sChOOLRN48]

I just heard of the Ketchup thing in a parents magazine!!! I don't have little little kids, but thought of suggesting that to the other nurses in the district! I am going to make the kids leave thier planner with me to get my ice packs returned! I am sick of throwing $$ away! Plus the longer the kids keep em the more they play with them & that breaks them!

I also want to make some warm packs--rice packs--the girls are just getting visits from aunt flo and c/o cramps a lot!

[CareBearnurse]

Sorry, But I disagree with the frozen ketchup packets. Not that they wouldn't work, but it is wasteful and enviromentally not good. Yes, ice bags are plastic as well, but they are/should be reusable.

[Hopefull2009]

Why can't the kids hold their own thermometer?

I never remembered someone holding one for me...you may want to try that.

[CareBearnurse]

Yes, especially now there are no mercury thermometers.

[Hopefull2009]

I make my own ice packs at home using the following (because I can't stand something that has been on the body going back in my freezer).

Take 1 part water to 1 part alcohol. Put it in a ziplock bag, freeze.

It creates the "slush" that will mold around an elbow, etc.