When a joint is injured in the wilderness or anywhere else, use the concept of “RICE” to speed healing and ease discomfort. The concept of “RICE” is as follows:
| o | Rest: Use the joint as little as possible. |
| o | Ice: Apply the coldest thing available to the joint (i.e. cold water, ice, snow, etc.). Make sure you don’t freeze the skin in the process. |
| o | Compression: Wrap the joint in an elastic bandage, elastic wrap, etc., but |
| o | Elevation: Keep the joint elevated above the heart. |
Apply “RICE” for 20 to 30 minutes at a time, three to four times a day until the pain in the joint subsides.
