Category Archives: Arm cast sling brace

Playground Injury? Here’s What to Know

Playground Injury? Here's what to know

Playground Injury? Here’s what to know

With the weather heating up, kids are spending more time outside, which means more trips to the playground! But sometimes, all that fun comes with an unexpected downside—injuries. If your child has recently had a tumble and ended up with a broken bone, you’re not alone. Playground injuries are surprisingly common, and the numbers may shock you:

  • 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
  • Severe injuries can include concussions, stitches, fractures, and more

CRAZY, right?! Who knew that the changing of seasons could have such a significant impact on childhood injuries? Whether it’s the excitement of summer or the return to school, kids are more active, and accidents happen. If your child is now sporting a cast or boot, you’re probably wondering what comes next.

Got Hurt on the Playground? Here’s What to Know

A broken bone or injury can feel like a major setback, but there are ways to make the healing process easier. Here are a few key things to keep in mind after a playground injury:

1. Comfort is Key

Casts and boots can be itchy, bulky, and frustrating for kids. Make sure they have soft, breathable clothing that won’t irritate their injury, and consider protective covers to prevent snagging on furniture, clothes, or even pets!

2. Keep It Clean & Dry

One of the biggest challenges with casts and orthopedic devices is keeping them clean and dry. Whether it’s water from the pool or dirt from the playground, moisture and debris can cause discomfort and even slow the healing process. Waterproof protection and covers can help make everyday activities easier.

3. Encourage Safe Play

Just because your child has a cast doesn’t mean they have to sit on the sidelines! Look for low-impact activities that allow them to stay engaged while avoiding further injury. Talk to their doctor about safe ways to stay active.

4. Brighten Their Recovery

Let’s face it—kids don’t love being stuck in a cast. But a little color and personality can make a big difference! Fun, colorful covers for casts and boots can help make the experience a little more exciting and help your child feel more like themselves.

Playground Injury? We’ve Got You Covered

Maybe you’ve stumbled across our website because your child has 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.  

Cast Claustrophobia Syndrome: How to Keep Your Cool in a Cast!

Cast Claustrophobia-syndrome

Diagnosis: Cast Claustrophobia Syndrome

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: 

Festive CastCoverz! Products For The Holiday Season

Festive CastCoverz! Products For The Holiday Season

Don’t let an injured arm or leg take the “ho-ho-ho” out of your holiday season! As the mom of a child who has broken over 20 bones – and owner of CastCoverz! ® who has served tens of thousands of customers – I know firsthand that wearing a cast, boot, splint, sling or being on crutches can dampen the holiday spirit. Not only do our covers protect your clothes, furniture, and skin from snags and scratches, and keep your unexpected wardrobe necessity clean, they also add fun to your not-so-fun injury.

Whether you are going to a holiday party with a cast or boot or spending time cozied up by the fire with your family and friends, make sure you are the talk of the holiday celebrations with a festive cast cover!

Following are just a handful of our most popular holiday prints.

Christmas Chevron: Zig and zag your way to holiday happiness with our Limited Edition CrutchWear in Christmas Chevron:

CastCoverz Christmas Chevron Red Crutches for Broken Leg

Bling it On Black:  Glitter silver sparkles on a rich black velvet background (available in Armz!, Legz!, and Bootz!). Photography just doesn’t do sparkles or holograms justice!

CastCoverz! Arm Cast Cover Black

Rubylicious: Elegant ruby velvet with hologram gold filigree design is lux and stunning (available in Armz!, Legz! and Bootz!).

CastCoverz! Arm Cast Cover Rubylicious Red

Santa’s Snowflake: This product will protect your sheets from snagging while keeping you warm and festive for the holidays. (As shown in Sleeping Bagz! for boots, also available in Sleeperz! for arm and leg casts and Mittz! for hand weather protection.)

Classic Red: Look festive and cheery! For ho-ho-holiday happiness.

CastCoverz! Leg Cast Cover Red

We also have a variety of Slingz! in holiday fabrics.

Limited Edition Christmas Chevron

CastCoverz Christmas Chevron Arm Sling

 

Rarin’ to Go Red!

Forest Green with Gold Scrolls

All of our fun and functional CastCoverz! are made in the USA. We hope they bring you lots of joy and healing this holiday season!

Feel Better, Heal Better with CastCoverz!

Protect Your Hand, Fingers, Cast, Splint, or Brace From Cold and Wet Weather with Mittz!

Mittz! Cozy

Mittz! Cozy

Can’t wear gloves or mittens because you’re wearing a cast, splint, or brace?  CastCoverz! original inventions (inspired by our customers,) Mittz! Cozy and Mittz! Dry have you covered, warm and dry!  Mittz! Cozy saves your hand and fingers from the bitter cold temperatures outside.  Designed with your comfort in mind, Mittz! Cozy is made with soft fleece and a stretchy cuff to keep the elements out, while making it easy to take on and off.

Mittz! Dry in Mousekedots

Mittz! Dry in Mousekedots

Have to go out in the rain?  Mittz! Dry keeps your hand and fingers nice and dry with it’s weatherproof  fabric that repels water (not for immersion in water, though!)  Mittz! Dry is also made with a stretchy cuff, because who wants rain or snow in their cast?  Both Mittz! Cozy and Mittz! Dry have an optional side Velcro® closure, if the thumb is not moveable or is casted at a Y or L angle, from the palm of the hand.

Mittz DryTo keep your hand and fingers, cast, splint, or brace warm AND dry, try layering the Mittz! Cozy cold weather cast protector under the Mittz! Dry wet weather cast protector!  For other CastCoverz! super-soft and oh-so-cozy cast protectors, check out our blog post:  The Weather Outside is Frightful, but Our Cast Covers are Delightful