Do I really need to use the ice pack?

The cold adds about 60% of the pain relief in older children and adults.  So, yes, use the ice pack unless it bothers the child or there is a sensitivity to cold.  The white wings have a soft side that children might like better than the shiny side or the blue wings. 

Can I use disposable crushable ice packs?

No.  They're too squishy, and absorb vibration without giving enough cold.

How long does it take for the ice packs to re-freeze?

The Blue Gel Wings will freeze solid in about 30 minutes in a good freezer.  The white ice wings take about 1 hour.

How long do ice packs stay frozen?

The Blue Gel Wings stay frozen about 10 minutes in room air, the white ice wings stay frozen about 10-20 minutes.  We find both melt after two immunizations, so we suggest changing out Wings after two shots.  Both wings will stay frozen 3 hours when sandwiched inside the Cold-To-Go bag or flat freezer packs in an insulated bag.

Does the ice pack need to be frozen solid?

Yes.  Otherwise, the squishy absorbs the vibration, and you lose out on descending inhibitory control.

While about 40% of the pain control comes from vibration,  anyone over the age of two is missing out on descending control as well as extra gate theory pain control without ice.  Scientists aren't sure whether the cold descending inhibition works with kids younger than two; we're studying it for shots with Buzzy now.  Some people are sensitive to cold or find the vibration alone is enough, and that's fine.  Give the kids a choice, "would you rather feel the poke or the really, really cold?"  Most people will pick feeling the cold, and they will find better pain reduction with both.  You’ll get gate theory control pain relief immediately, but the descending inhibition from freezing -cold gets more intense over 15 – 30 seconds.  For people who don't mind cold, more is more: up to about 1 minute of numbing.

To quote Val Kilmer in one of the most rockin' geek movies of all time*, ICE IS NICE!!!

*Real Genius