Cooling Wet sheet pack

15°C (60°F)

Cooling is only required in Production Fevers, which make up about 10% of fevers. In these cases, the Graduated Tub Bath is the recommended treatment. For hydrotherapists, treatment of fevers should begin as soon as a fever seems to be starting. When this is done, the fever is usually resolves and the patient well in 3-4 days even with serious production fevers such as typhoid.
90% of fevers are Retention Fevers and they are best treated with three daily heating treatments (Hot foot bath, Fomentations without cold, Russian steam bath etc) followed by brief cold (3-5 second cold shower, Cold mitten friction etc) and bed rest. (for more information)
To test whether the fever is a Retention Fever ask the patient if they would like to be warmed up till they are sweating. If they answer, "Yes please!", it is definitely a Retention Fever. For small children and infants, just place them in a warm bath and if they like it, let them stay and warm up for while.

Materials needed

Large sheet
wool blankets
large plastic sheet
towels and washcloths.
Basin with ice cold water.
Hot water bottle or hot foot bath materials

Indications

Cooling – 20 min Evaporation effect.

Reduces fever.

Contraindications

Very few contraindications, just use caution in patients with poor circulation, like diabetes.
Caution in very weak patients with severe colds or viral infection such as influenza
Feeble persons
Skin eruptions
Use caution/observe reaction and tolerance if low BMI, in chilled person or hypothyroidism.

Special Considerations

Not recommended for infants or elderly patients who can’t warm themselves.
Patient must be warm before treatment.
Sheets and blanket must be large enough to cover the patient completely.
Cotton sheet should be wet, but not dripping.
Do not wrap tightly.
Stay with patient and observe reaction.
Assure patient warmth

Procedure

Place plastic sheet on bed
Wool blanket over plastic
Another plastic over blanket
Wet sheet over the plastic
Have patient lie on wet sheet.
Wrap sheet around patient so all body parts below neck are covered.
Wrap large towel snuggly around neck.
Wrap blanket around patient.
Hot water bottle on feet
Place pillows under knees and under head for comfort
End with a cold treatment