Dear Asselin,
Sport medics/physicians use something they call "cold spray", usually
made of Ethyl Chloride (alternate name: Chloroethane), which provides
local anaesthesia on the area of the wound.
Wikipedia describes:
"It is a colorless, flammable gas or refrigerated liquid with a
faintly sweet odor. [...] Recent information suggests carcinogenic
potential; it has been designated as IARC category A3, Confirmed
Animal Carcinogen with Unknown Relevance to Humans. As a result, the
State of California has incorporated it into Proposition 65 as a known
carcinogen. Nonetheless, it is still used in medicine as a local
anesthetic."
(SOURCE: Wikipedia, Ethyl Chloride <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethyl_chloride>).
Porbably therefore, the Football Association recommends:
"On the use of ?cold sprays? ? these should not be used until a
competent clinical evaluation of the injury (SALTAPS) has been
performed to determine a player?s suitability to return to activity.
Sprays must not be used as a masking agent in an attempt to alleviate
a player?s symptoms when significant injury has been sustained e.g.
muscle contusion, ligament sprain, muscle strain. Furthermore, cold
sprays should not be used as a medium to sanction a player?s return to
activity when the clinical examination indicates otherwise. Be aware
that inappropriate and over zealous application of the spray has been
known to result in a superficial skin ?burn?. If cold therapy is
considered appropriate, a safer, more economical and practical
alternative might be to use iced-water from a spray bottle." (SOURCE:
"Pitchside Medical Care",
<http://www.thefa.com/GrassrootsNew/Coach/Postings/2004/06/MedicalKitBag>).
Medics on the field, however, also use antiseptic spray and burn spray
(respectively against infections and minor burns).
Here is an example of a cold spray:
Hansaplast - Cold Spray
<http://www.hansaplast.com/international/sport/cold_spray.asp>
I hope this answers your question. Please contact me if you need any
clarifications on this answer before you rate it. |
