Emergency advice

Bruises:

  1. Raise and support the injured part.
  2. Hold an ice pack wrapped in a tea towel against the bruise.
  3. Do this for 10 minutes.

What are bruises?

Bruises occur when an injury causes blood to leak into the skin or tissues beneath the skin. They may not appear straight away but the skin can still be painful and often feel tender at first. Elderly people and those taking anticoagulant (anti-clotting) drugs can bruise easily.

What to do

  1. Raise and support the injured part in a comfortable position.

  2. Hold something cold against the injury to help reduce the swelling, like an ice pack or a frozen bag of vegetables wrapped in a tea towel for at least 20 minutes.

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Related first aid advice

Cuts and grazes

Cuts and grazes are common injuries that can usually be treated at home. Learn what to do.

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Head injuries in adults

All head injuries are potentially serious because they may damage the brain. A head injury may cause damage to the brain tissue, a skull fracture or an injury to the spine or neck. Learn what to do.

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How to use a cold compress

Cooling an injury like a sprain or bruise can help to reduce the swelling and pain. Find out how to use two types of cold compress.

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