Owner & founder of CastCoverz!, Annette Giacomazzi, started out just like any other empathetic mom… wanting to make her daughter’s 6th broken bone a little more bearable. Annette began creating cute & fun covers for Elli’s casts, which quickly evolved into slings, seasonally themed cast covers– you name it! The ideas just kept coming! Friends and family are supposed to “ooh” and “aah” and be supportive of an injured child or a mom with an idea. But, it’s when strangers stopped them on the street that Annette had her “AHA!” moment and CastCoverz! was born.
First, Annette’s family contributed as the hands and feet of the business, out of their home. The first employees even worked out of their home! Eventually, CastCoverz! expanded to a warehouse that required a full team of sewists, shippers and customer service gems! Having found a unique niche in the orthopedic retail market, Annette created a flourishing business.
Fast forward 13 years, CastCoverz! is now the largest online retailer for orthopedic products and has earned its title by providing fun & functional products to comfort orthopedic patients. We are proud to have served hundreds of thousands of customers and retailers around the world.
Share Your Story!
Our customers are the heart & soul of our success! We LOVE seeing how CastCoverz! has helped you Feel Better so you can Heal Better! Share your family-friendly stories with us at cs@castcoverz.com for a chance to be featured on our Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/castcoverz)
More Info
Questions about sizing or custom cast covers? Give us a call 1-800-CASTCOVER (1-800-227-8268)
When our 7 year old broke her leg on July 2nd, I had the ER doc wrap her long leg cast in red, then white, then blue casting tape. Creative, right? Instead of showing her patriotism, she looked like a barber pole. But, that was before CastCoverz! was born. We’ve made it much easier for you to show your patriotism!
CastCoverz! keeps you covered in RED, WHITE & BLUE, as you honor the Land of the FREE because of the BRAVE!
From machine-washable fabrics to customized trim & media pockets (available in Slingz!), we’ve got the perfect accessories to keep your orthopedic device CLEAN, GERM-FREE and to prevent scratching or snagging.
With the weather heating up, the excitement of summer vacation becomes evident in schools & daycares everywhere! Staying safe for summer continues to be a top priority, especially when statistics show playground injuries escalate in the month prior to and after summer! It seems that the anticipation of summer or returning to school increases the odds of accidental injury occurring during playtime. In fact:
* 40% of all injuries occur at the beginning and the end of every school year
* 70% occur on public playgrounds
* 70% of those injuries are severe and involve falls to the surface?
* that severe injury includes concussions, stitches, fractures and even worse?
CRAZY, right?! Who knew the changing of seasons could have such a large impact on the number of childhood injuries, especially in a playground setting. Perhaps it’s the influx of excitement or the increased time playing outside in sunny weather; there are many common factors that attribute to the increase in injuries. However, in many cases, these startling accidents can be prevented. Here are a few simple tips to ensure that your little ones stay safe for summer:
Playground Safety
Responsible Supervision – Close supervision by a responsible adult may be the most important factor in preventing injury. Adults should keep a watchful eye on children while they are at play to help prevent accidents or even playground scuffles that can lead to an accident.
Age-Appropriate Areas – When visiting a playground, look around to make sure it has a separate, age-appropriate area for children 5 and under. This will prevent little ones from getting injuries from accidents or collisions with older children.
Avoid Hazards – Being aware includes looking for hazards, such as broken playground equipment and dangerous surfaces. In addition, make sure the grounds are as free of any debris (i.e. litter, glass) as much as possible. This can help prevent children from tripping and falling to the ground or causing other injuries like cuts.
Impact Absorbing Surfaces – There are surfaces specifically designed to help absorb impact in case of an accident. These are the best surfaces for children to play on. Look for playgrounds that have rubber mats or shredded rubber, artificial turf, or even mulch. There are a variety of substances, but the point is to avoid having children at play on non-impact absorbing surfaces, such as concrete or gravel.
Check Clothing – During the fall and winter months, we often dress our children in layers. This could include hoodies, sweatshirts, or other items that have drawstrings around the neck. To help avoid having children getting these strings caught on playground equipment, parents should remove hood and neck drawstrings from outerwear.
Remove Bike Helmets – Sometimes parents feel it’s best for children to play while wearing bike helmets to protect their heads in case of an accidental fall. This actually could impede your child’s play for numerous reasons and lead to serious injury. Therefore, it is recommended that bike helmets be removed before children use playground equipment.
Encourage Proper Behavior – One of the best ways to prevent playground injuries is to teach children proper playground behavior (such as no pushing, shoving, or crowding). Teaching children how to play properly and be respectful of others on playground equipment can help prevent many injuries and scuffles that could lead to injury.
Being safe is the farthest thing from a child’s mind. It is the parents’, educators’, and playground supervisors’ job to alert our children about the potential dangers of school playgrounds. It all starts with these few tips. To help ensure that your child’s teacher and care-providers are informed,use this handy tip sheet provided by Safe Kids Worldwide.
For additional tips on the prevention of broken bones and other “Feel Better, Heal Better” topics, spend a little time on our blog.
Already Injured? We’ve Got You Covered
Maybe you’ve stumbled across our website because your child has already experienced misfortune on the playground! As you can imagine, a child in any type of cast or orthopedic device faces a number of discomforts; casts scratching on skin or Fido, snagging clothing or furniture, not being able to play in water without waterproof protection, boots getting dirty from constant wear & tear? CastCoverz! offers a number of colorful solutions to brighten your child’s injury, helping your little one feel better & heal better.
Are you in a cast? Are you hot? Of course you are! Doesn’t matter the season, hot or cold, casts get hot. Think about it- you have layers of cotton next to your skin, wrapped with tape and finished with a glue that hardens to form a protective shell. Can you say claustrophobic?
Regardless of age or activity level (even lying on a couch watching tv) humans perspire; it’s our natural body regulating and cooling device!
Wearing a cast prevents this cooling process to occur. The heat you feel radiating from your body is REAL, it’s just trapped inside your cast.
Fighting that sticky discomfort is another uncomfortable part of wearing a cast, regardless of the time of year. When your arm or leg is itchy & hot you might find yourself getting heated and possibly anxious about your cast. At CastCoverz!, we call this Cast Claustrophobia Syndrome.
Luckily, we’ve got some cool suggestions for helping you “keep your chill” while wearing a cast.
Keeping Your Cool
CastCooler: We’ve been a HUGE fan of CastCooler ever since the company made their debut. One determined dad invented this device to help alleviate discomfort while wearing a cast. Their website states, “by creating a gentle vacuum on the outside of your cast or splint, airflow is directed through the lining of your cast/splint. This airflow immediately removes moisture and cools your skin. Without touching your skin, bacteria, itch, and odor are significantly reduced, and your cast stays fresh.” All you need is a vacuum with a hose. Check out their website for more info on this game-changing product, as well as a handful of awesome testimonials!
Oh, and it’s nearly indestructible! So, tuck it up on the top shelf of your medicine cabinet for the next injury in your family (we hope not! 🙂 ) OR we know someone in your circle (friends, neighbors, family, classmates, co-workers) will be in a cast and you can gift it to them! You’ll be loved forevermore for your thoughtful get-well gift.
Staying Hydrated: There are plenty of reasons to stay hydrated throughout the day, but a primary reason is that it helps your body stay cool! Sipping ice-cold water (even if you’re not feeling thirsty) will help lower your body temperature, therefore, cooling off your casted limb. You’d be surprised how much better and energized you feel when you’re well-hydrated!
An Icy Washcloth: Placing a damp washcloth in the freezer for a few hours and then placing it behind your neck or on your forehead is an instant fix for cooling down! While we don’t recommend placing an icy washcloth on your cast, you can try placing it around your elbow or behind your knee near the cast; this will at least help cool off the surrounding areas and wick away sweat in proximity to your cast.
Tip: Keep a good supply of ice packs and/or a bag of frozen peas handy. They can be strategically laid on top of a cast to help cool it (wrap it in a dishcloth to prevent condensation from getting your cast moist).
It’s KEY to avoid getting moisture inside your cast! Moisture and/or getting your cast wet can affect the efficacy of the cast and you could get maceration…a smelly, itchy skin condition. The last thing you want to deal with while healing it this uncomfortable irritant!
Take a Dip with AquaShieldUSA: Who doesn’t want to dip into a pool on a hot summer day?! Maybe you’re planning a trip to the beach and wanting to enjoy the waves? Whatever your hot summer day antidote is, we’ve got you covered! AquaShieldUSA is a watertight cast protector that seals around your limb, allowing you to keep your cast dry as you cool off! Don’t have a pool or a beach? Fill your tub with cool, tepid water! As you can imagine, finding the correct size in this product is essential for proper sealing (no leakage); check out the sizing chart on our website to make sure you cast will be sealed properly for ultimate protection!
Overcoming Cast Claustrophobia Syndrome
At the end of the day, it’s still frustrating to deal with an itchy, smelly cast as temperatures rise! Just remember- this is only temporary! Just as the seasons change, so does the state of your healing injuries. With proper care and rest, you’ll be out of your cast in no time! Stay positive and “keep your cool” while sporting your cast! Don’t let your elusive “cast claustrophobia syndrome” get the best of you.
What creative ways have you or a loved one cooled off while in a cast? Help your fellow members of the Broken Bones Club, by sharing your family-friendly ways to cool off while wearing a cast, below:
