Do you know the correct way to reduce fever by wiping with alcohol?

Generally speaking, if the fever does not exceed 38 degrees, the doctor will recommend physical cooling methods to treat it. For example, wiping it with a certain concentration of soap will have a better effect. Usually the neck, chest, armpits, limbs, hands and soles of the feet are the five parts that must be wiped. It should be noted that you must not wipe them randomly. You must follow the order from top to bottom to see the effect.

1. Rub these parts with alcohol when you have a fever

Soak gauze or a soft towel in alcohol, wring it until it is half dry, and gently wipe the patient's neck, chest, armpits, limbs, palms and soles of feet. The concentration of alcohol used for bathing should not be too high, otherwise using high-concentration alcohol over a large area may irritate the skin and absorb a large amount of moisture from the epidermis.

Specific method: After dipping gauze or handkerchief in alcohol, you should wipe it regularly and don't wipe it randomly. Usually start from the patient's neck and rub from top to bottom along the outside of the upper arm to the back of the hand. Then rub along the inner side of the upper arm through the armpit to the palm. After wiping the upper limbs, wipe the back from the neck downwards. While wiping, use the other hand to gently massage and pat the back to promote blood circulation. Finally, start wiping the lower limbs from the iliac area, using the same method as wiping the upper limbs. Wipe each area for about 3 minutes. When wiping the armpits, elbows, palms, groin, soles of feet and other parts, the staying time should be slightly longer to improve the heat dissipation effect.

2. Benefits of rubbing alcohol on the body

When using alcohol to scrub the patient's skin, it can not only stimulate the dilation of the skin blood vessels of patients with high fever and increase the skin's heat dissipation capacity; but also because of its volatility, it can absorb and take away a large amount of heat, thereby lowering body temperature and relieving symptoms.

3. Adjustment of alcohol concentration

Generally, a concentration of 30% to 50% is appropriate. The alcohol should not be too cold, the temperature should be between 32℃ and 35℃.

4. Precautions for rubbing alcohol on the body when having a fever

1. Place an ice pack or a wet towel on your head during a sponge bath to relieve congestion in the head and neck.

2. Although physical cooling is good for high fever, alcohol body rub is not suitable for everyone and is only recommended for adults over 16 years old.

a. Children under 16 years old who use alcohol to wipe their bodies may suffer a sudden drop in body temperature and go into shock.

b. When children under 16 have a fever, their bodies become hot and alcohol is quickly absorbed, which can easily lead to alcohol poisoning.

3. The chest, abdomen and back of the neck are sensitive to stimulation, which may cause adverse reactions such as reflex slowing of heart rate and diarrhea, so alcohol baths are not suitable.