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, 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.
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:
Spring is here and we are certainly seeing it in our northern California CastCoverz!™ headquarters. Longer days, lots of sunshine, budding blossoms, and broken bones. Our designer cast cover company knows that injuries know no seasons! So if you are reading this, chances are that you, or a friend or family member, has a broken bone. We are sorry to hear and we want to help! Our company was built by mom whose daughter broke many bones so we know how you are feeling (read CastCoverz! founder Annette’s story here).
Our cast covers are designed to do double duty. They help protect the cast and keep it clean while preventing your cast from snagging or scratching your clothes, furniture or skin. And they are fun! We select whimsical, happy fabrics (solid colors too!) to help lift the spirits (or match outfits) of those that need a cast cover. Kids and adults love them.
Here are some of our most popular Spring-themed fabrics.
We also have DRYPRO and AquaShieldUSA waterproof cast covers for your arm or leg casts! These make swimming at the pool, beach, or lake a possibility! They are also wonderful for showering and bathing.
At CastCoverz! we make it easy to celebrate Spring because when you feel better, you heal better!
