Gel Pack FAQ
How long does the gel pack stay cold/hot?
The gel pack will stay cold approximately 2-4 hours depending on the size of the gel pack and the application it is used for. The gel pack will retain heat between 30 minutes and 1 hour, however, doctors recommend that you use heat or cold for no more than 30 minutes for an adult and 15 minutes for a child. With both cold and heat therapy, you should check the skin area every two minutes for redness or discoloration of the skin and discontinue use if this occurs.
Can I store the product in the freezer all the time?
Yes, you can keep your gel pack in the freezer all the time so it is ready for use in case of injury. We recommend if you are going to do this that you place the product in a large zip lock bag to keep the food smells out and to protect it from contact with sharp objects in the freezer.
Can I place my gel bag directly in the microwave from the freezer?
No, it is recommended that you bring the bag to room temperature first since heating times are based on room temperature. If you will be frequently switching from one extreme to the other, it may be a good idea to have an extra gel bag on hand when needed.
I suffer from headaches but the gel bag is too cold when I take it out of the freezer, what can I do?
The area around the head and neck contains very little fatty tissue, so if the gel pack is too cold when frozen you could cool it by placing it in the refrigerator instead; this will still provide therapeutic cooling to the area.
I don't know the wattage of my microwave, how do I know how long to heat it?
Start with the lowest time listed on the gel back, check to see if the gel bag is hot enough, if it needs to be hotter add 10 seconds at a time until it your desired temperature. The next time you heat the gel bag, you can heat it for the total amount of time it took to get the gel bag to your desired temperature.
Can I place the entire product in the microwave?
Yes, the product is manufactured from all microwave safe materials including the fabric sleeve. However, there is a possibility that the fabric sleeve may absorb food smells from the microwave so you may choose to heat the gel bag only and place it in the sleeve after it has been heated.
How do I activate my instant cold pack?
Find the inner liquid pouch inside the instant cold pack and press down hard to burst the liquid inner pouch so it can mix with the granules inside to produce the cold effect. The cooling effect should begin immediately once the liquid and granules are mixed together.
What happens if the gel packs breaks and the gel spills?
The gel is very slippery. Clean up the gel and flush it down the drain with lots of water. If it is allowed to dry and comes into contact with water later, it will absorb the water causing a large quantity of gel.
What if I need a replacement gel pack for my wrap?
The gel packs are inexpensive and replacements are available for all the wraps. You can order a replacement gel pack online or phone/fax/email us.
Can I wash my wrap?
Yes, the wraps can be machine washed in cold water. Remember to keep colors separate. Tumble dry on the low setting.
The gel bag broke open and it is leaking, how do I clean it?
While the gel materials used are non-toxic and will not harm your furniture or carpet the food grad blue dye can stain. If you need to clean the gel off your furniture or carpet, let it get dry and flaky and you should be able to vacuum it up. The gel material is also water-soluble.
Alternate Option
- Scrape off the excess gel pack liquid from the upholstery with a plastic spoon. Discard the gel and spoon in the trash.
- Mix four cups of cool water with one scoop of an oxygen cleaning powder until completely dissolved.
- Submerge a white cloth in the mixture and wring out the excess liquid. You want the cloth to be damp but not soggy.
- Blot the gel pack stain with the upholstery. Blot at the edge of the stain and move toward the middle. Repeat this process until you have removed all signs of the gel pack stain.
- Rinse the auto upholstery by patting with a clean cloth dampened with cool water. Allow the upholstery to air dry.
Hot or Cold ?
Customers often ask us when they should use heat therapy and when they should use cold therapy. These guidelines will help you determine the appropriate uses for each:
*Remember, because some injuries can be serious, you should see your doctor if your injury doesn’t improve or if it gets worse after 48 hours.
COLD THERAPY
Cold therapy with a frozen Caldera Gel Pack is the best immediate treatment for acute injuries because it reduces swelling and pain. Ice is a vaso-constrictor (it causes the blood vessels to narrow) and it limits internal bleeding at the injury site.
Cold therapy can also help treat some overuse injuries and chronic pain. Use your frozen Caldera Gel Pack to treat an inflamed area after exercise. It’s not helpful to ice a chronic injury before exercise.
For example, if you have chronic knee pain that gets worse after running, you may want to ice the injury after each run to reduce or prevent inflammation.
For more information about icing an injury, click here. (This link takes you to the below information Cold Therapy)
HEAT THERAPY
Heat is generally used for chronic injuries or injuries that have no inflammation or swelling. Heat therapy is ideal for soreness, stiffness, or nagging muscle or joint pain.
Use your heated Caldera Gel Pack before exercise to increase the elasticity of joint connective tissues and to stimulate blood flow. Heat can also help spasmed muscles.
Do not apply heat after exercise.
Because heat increases circulation and raises skin temperature, you shouldn’t apply heat to acute injuries or injuries that show signs of inflammation.