Tag Archives: back to school

5 Tips for Going Back to School on Crutches

Guest Post by Goodbye Crutches

Back to school on crutchesGoing back to school can be exciting and challenging all at the same time. When your child is on crutches, it’s a whole new ball game with plenty of new rules thrown into the mix. Here are five tips to help you prepare your child for going back to school on crutches and helping the experience go as smoothly as possible.

 

Tip#1:  Talk to the School

You will want to let the school know about your child’s condition. He might need to take medications or have a few extra minutes between classes to get around. He might also need to be excused from gym class or have extra help at lunch. Arrange as much as you can in advance with the school, so there are no surprises for him or the school on the first day.

Tip#2:  Arrange Help with Friends

Find out which of your child’s friends are in his classes and talk to them before school starts. Ask if they wouldn’t mind helping carry his books, lunch tray, and anything else he might need help with. Most friends will be more than willing to help, but you could offer a special ice cream treat or a movie adventure at the end of the recovery period as a thank you.

Tip#3:  Look into Alternatives to Crutches

boy_scooter_thumb-resized-600If your child struggles on crutches at home, surely he will have even more trouble at school. One of the best things you can do for him is to look into another mobility device that will help him get around easier. Goodbye Crutches has three options including the Knee Scooter, Seated Scooter and Hands Free Crutch. Look at the details on each and see which would fit your child’s activity level and lifestyle the best. Goodbye Crutches has a number of other products that can help your child with his recovery, as well, both at school and at home.

Tip#4:  Think about Style

PrintsCombo__65624.1366341893.1280.1280If your child would like to add some personality to his cast or would prefer concealing it, CastCoverz! cast covers slip on easily over the cast and come in a wide variety of colors and stylish fabrics. Not only do cast covers help your child stand out or blend in, depending on his personality, they keep the cast clean and snag-free! Who wants to look at an ugly, dirty cast or have his favorite clothing and furniture snagged from the rough casting material? CastCoverz! provides many other fun and functional products that comfort orthopedic patients; such as, designer color crutches, CastCooler for relief from itchy, stinky casts, the CastShield waterproof cast protector for bathing, and DryPro waterproof cover for swimming and going to the beach. Style and comfort help orthopedic patients feel better, so they heal better.

Tip#5:  Pamper Him at Home

Once your child gets home from school, he will be extremely tired from the long day of getting around on crutches. Pamper him as much as possible by bringing his snack to him on the couch and letting him lounge around more than usual, so he can store up as much energy as possible for the next day.

Going back to school always has its challenges. But, when you’re on crutches, it can be even more challenging. We hope these 5 tips will help you prepare in advance and help your child get through his orthopedic recovery experience while going to school.

Back to School Playground Injury Prevention Tips

Annette Giacomazzi, owner and founder of CCZ!

Annette Giacomazzi, owner and founder of CCZ!

Annette Giacomazzi, owner and founder of CastCoverz!, the world leader in cast covers and essential orthopedic soft-goods, gives tips on how school-aged children can avoid injuries on the playground.

Playground injuries are the leading cause of Emergency Room visits for school-aged children, ages 5-14.  More than one-third of these injuries are considered severe, including fractures and concussions. Giacomazzi knows this all too well and encourages parents, caretakers, and educators to refresh themselves with back-to-school injury prevention tips on how to prevent avoidable injuries on the school playground in CastCoverz!’s latest press release:

CastCoverz! Founder Provides Back to School Playground Injury Prevention Tips

Playground Injuries

The good news is…most playground injuries are avoidable!  Follow these tips to ensure safety on the school playground:

  1. Close supervision by a responsible adult may be the most important factor in preventing injury
  2. Ensure playgrounds have an age-appropriate, separate area, for children 5 and under
  3. Look for hazards, such as broken equipment and dangerous surfaces
  4. Avoid playing on non-impact absorbing surfaces, such as concrete or gravel
  5. Remove hood and neck drawstrings from outerwear, to avoid strangulation hazards
  6. Remove bike helmets before using playground equipment
  7. Teach children proper playground behavior, such has no pushing, shoving, or crowding

“Being safe is the farthest thing from their mind.  It is the parents’, educators’, and playground supervisors’ job to alert our children about the potential dangers of school playgrounds.” ~Annette Giacomazzi 

For more tips on the prevention of broken bones and other feel better, heal better topics, spend a little time on our blog.  Feel Better, Heal Better with CastCoverz!

 

Back-to-School Tips for a Smooth Start

It’s Back-to-School time again! Your children are most likely feeling excited to see their friends again, sad that summer is over, and quite possibly having some first-day jitters. Moms and dads have the same range of emotions, from being relieved to getting back into the school routine, yet disappointed that family vacation time is coming to an end.

Back-to-School time is a busy time of year from school supply and back-to-school clothes shopping, to early bed times and LOTS of  paperwork to fill out, assuring the school has all of your current information (phone numbers and medical needs being most important!)

Here are some great tips from FamilyEducation.com to help get your new school year off to a GREAT start:

Did you know most accidents, nearly 70%, occur on public playgrounds, including school playgrounds?  More than one-third of all playground injuries are severe, with children experiencing broken bones, internal injuries, concussions, and dislocations.  For more information on playground safety, be sure to read CastCoverz!’s very own Annette Giacomazzi’s guest blog post Playground Safety, featured by Tailor Made Momma.

CastCoverz! provides FUN, functional, and fashionable products that comfort orthopedic patients; from cast, brace, and orthotic boot covers to colored crutches, crutch covers, waterproof protectors (DryPro) and CastCooler for sheer relief. One of our biggest jobs, as a parent, is to keep our children safe!  Should an accident occur, CastCoverz! is here to help your child feel better, so they heal better!