Hints From Heloise

Dear Heloise:

I lost your recipe for a homemade cold pack where the ingredients are put in a zipper bag and kept in the freezer. I know it was water and possibly rubbing alcohol, but I don't remember the amounts. Can you please reprint it?

A Reader, via e-mail

With summer here and little ones -- and big ones -- spending more time outside, there are lots of bumps and scrapes to deal with. A cheap cold pack helps ease things. For quick packs, you can use a bag of frozen veggies or little takeout condiment packets of mustard, ketchup, etc., that have been kept in the freezer for this purpose.

You can make your own cold pack using 3 parts water to 1 part alcohol (example, 3/4 cup water and 1/4 cup alcohol). Put it in a sturdy, labeled, plastic zipper-top freezer bag, and bag it again to prevent leaks. There are different strengths of isopropyl alcohol, from 70 percent to 90 percent. The higher the alcohol content, the lower the freezing point. The pack won't freeze solid and will mold to your body, so it is important to place a cloth between your skin and the cold pack. Be sure to label with the ingredients, proportions and add a few drops of food coloring so it won't be mistaken for food. When the pack thaws, it can be refrozen over and over.

Dear Heloise:

While packing for a trip, put the suitcase contents on a bed and take a picture. Also take a picture of the suitcase exterior, and scan the front page of your passport, tickets and itinerary onto your computer. E-mail all of these items to yourself. If something gets lost, you can access your e-mail while on vacation.