Tag Archives: cast protector

How to Care for Your Cast and Have Fun at the Beach!

We’re well into the summer season now, which means many of us are still planning to head to the beach. If you’re wearing a cast you might be wondering if you’ll be able to enjoy the sand and sun or if you’ll just wind up hot, itchy, and with a lot of sand in your orthopedic device.

There’s no need to cancel your beach holiday just because you, your friend, or a family member has a broken bone. A few practical tips and one or two FUNctional accessories are all you need to keep your cast sand-free and dry so you can have an enjoyable, comfortable trip to the seaside.

Products such as DRYPRO and AquaShieldUSA make waterproof covers for arm and leg casts as well as bandages, splints, PICC lines, and prostheses. DRYPRO is the industry standard for superior water protection. AquaShieldUSA is our latex-free option. Waterproof covers are pulled over and sealed a couple of inches above the cast to keep water and sand out. They are reusable as well but keep in mind that they are not to be worn for extended periods of time.

Sizing is extremely important to get right when it comes to waterproof covers since they are considered medical products and are usually non-returnable items. Make sure you refer to the sizing information on each product page and if you need help, don’t hesitate to call us at 1(800) CASTCOVER (1-800-227-8268) for assistance. It is also important to note that covers like DRYPRO and AquaShield USA should never be worn with an orthopedic boot. CAUTION: FOR YOUR SAFETY never swim with an orthopedic boot. Click here to learn more about enjoying the beach while wearing a boot.

When it comes to keeping sand and other beach debris out of your cast the solution can be a simple item you can buy at the grocery store: Glad® Press‘n Seal®. Just wrap Press’n Seal around a cast and make sure to overlap so 1″ or 2″ of your skin provides the seal. It will keep you dry for light water activities (splash and plays, sprinklers, etc…) and will keep sand out as well.

If you do happen to get sand or debris in your cast, it’s best to call your doctor. Never attempt to clean it out yourself and never stick anything down the cast to try and get debris out. That can break or irritate the skin and lead to infection.

And if you do happen to get your cast wet or damp, the CastCooler® comes to your rescue! Just wrap it around the cast, grab the vacuum, plop on the couch to watch your favorite summer show or sports, attach the hose to the CastCooler and let it dry and cool your cast! If you happen to be staying at a resort or a hotel and didn’t bring your vacuum cleaner from home 🙂 just request a vacuum cleaner with a hose from housekeeping. They are often very accommodating to their guests.

Your beach holiday should be about relaxing and enjoying time with your family and friends, not about stressing over how to keep a cast sand-free and dry. CastCoverz! offers a huge range of FUNctional, fashionable solutions, including waterproof covers, boot covers, leg covers, arm covers, slings and cooling accessories. Explore these and other products to make your trip to the beach as comfortable as possible.

How to Care for Your Boot During Your Trip to the Beach

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We still have many more summer days left for making beach memories with our family and friends. If you’re wearing an orthopedic walking boot, you might be wondering how you will be comfortable, make the most of your beach trip, and enjoy the sun and sand without winding up hot, itchy, and with a lot of sand in that big boot, post op shoe, “ Jesus Sandal”, fracture cast or walking cast or …. 🙂 .

There’s no need to cancel your beach holiday just because you, your friend, or a family member wears a boot. A few practical tips and one or two FUNctional accessories are all you need to have an enjoyable, comfortable trip to the seaside.

When it comes to keeping sand and other beach debris out of your boot, the solution is simple: Purchase a leg cast cover to cover your leg and toes from CastCoverz! then slide on your boot. Our Legz! products will keep most sand out of your toes. Legz! is a woven product so a little bit of sand could still wiggle through. If you have a leg cast, please read this article.

You can also purchase one of our Bootz! or BootGuardzXtreme! products. They are designed to cover orthopedic walking boots leaving the sole exposed for your safety (custom products are available for post-op shoes and “Jesus Sandals,” too). The Bootz! Is our daily wear product designed to cover the boot and to prevent velcro straps from catching and snagging everything–including blowing sand. Bootz! is available in solids and a variety of prints. Our Bootz! are designed to stretch around the perimeter of the edge of your boot leaving the sole exposed for your safety. PLEASE NOTE: Walking on “soft” sand tends to roll your foot. You are already compromised due to your injury and your gait is uneven due to the boot. Please be careful while in a boot. In addition, the sand could “push” against the side of the boot popping up your daily wear Bootz! so be sure to use and adhere the included repositionable adhesive strips that anchor it to the sides of your boot. FYI…“Hard-packed” sand doesn’t roll the foot.

Our other product for orthopedic walking boots is our BootGuardzXtreme!. This is our sturdy, durable, back entry WEATHERproof product made for snow, rain, and some cases, sand. Made of a durable Denier©, think backpack material, your BootGuardzXtreme! is the ultimate in boot protection leaving the sole of your boot exposed for your safety.

Another option can be a simple item you can buy at the grocery store: Glad® Press‘n Seal®. To keep sand out of your toes while in a boot, wrap your leg with Press’n Seal and then put on your boot. If you have a shank to your boot (goes up your leg vs a post-op shoe / Jesus Sandal) you can cover it with a layer of Press ‘n Seal to prevent most sand from “sticking” to the velcro straps and padding. Note: depending on weather conditions and the length of time used this option is not necessarily reusable. CAUTION: FOR YOUR SAFETY never cover the sole/bottom of a boot with any product. Why? 2 reasons: #1 You could trip and re-injure yourself. #2 Material(s) is/are shredded when walked on. Think playing basketball in/on your driveway with only socks on. 🙂

WORD OF CAUTION: DO NOT SWIM WITH AN ORTHOPEDIC BOOT. There are no waterproof products to seal a boot. And CastCoverz! wouldn’t sell them if they were available. Why? 3 very good reasons:

The waterproof product would have to stretch around the diagonal circumference of your heel over the top of your boot and then “shrink” to seal around your skin above the boot. No waterproof material has that capability.
FOR YOUR SAFETY: If something happened (a small tear / rip) it would fill with water and make this a drowning risk.
FOR YOUR SAFETY: Do not cover the bottom of the sole of your boot/sandal as it could be a tripping hazard. And the material(s) is/are shredded by a boot when walked on.

If you are experiencing hip, knee or back pain since walking with a boot, combined with a tennis shoe, EvenUp© provides immediate relief! Many of our customers (and doctors) report physical therapy is often needed to correct the misalignment you may experience. So contact your doctor if the pain does not subside.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call us at 1(800) CASTCOVER (1-800-227-8268) for assistance.

Your beach holiday should be about relaxing and enjoying time with your family and friends, not about stressing over how to keep a cast or walking boot dry and sand free. CastCoverz! offers a huge range of FUNctional, for the orthopedic patient, cast or boot. Explore these and other products to make your trip to the beach as comfortable as possible.

Playground Safety: It Can Make or Break Your Summer Fun!

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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.

The Weather Outside is Frightful, but Our Cast Covers are Delightful

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The weather outside is unbearably cold and you’re wondering, “How do I keep my fingers or toes warm while wearing a cast or boot?” From our innovative Sleeperz! arm and leg cast covers and Mittz! Cozy cold weather protectors for hands to Sleeping Bagz! for your orthopedic walking boot, these CastCoverz! original inventions (inspired by our customers) have you covered with a multitude of super-soft, oh-so-cozy warm fleece covers.

Sleeperz! for Arms

Sleeperz! fleece cast covers not only keep you warm and cozy, they protect you and those around you from the scratching and snagging that so often occurs while wearing a cast. Sleeperz! cast protectors are available for arm and leg casts, in addition to Tubez! knee and wrist braces. With Sleeperz!, you’ll get a good night’s sleep, which has been proven to aid healing!

Mittz! Cozy cold weather cast protector keeps your hand and fingers warm with it’s mitt-like coziness. The stretchy cuff, or optional side Velcro® closure is designed to make your life easier while wearing a hard cast or stiff brace, yet keeps the wind and cold out and warmth in.

Did your doctor tell you to wear your orthotic walking boot 24/7, even to bed? Yuck! Sleeping Bagz! were created to keep the cooties on the bottom of your walking boot, where they belong. Nobody wants to drag their boot to bed with them, especially with all those germs! Keep your toes warm and boot cooties off your sheets with Sleeping Bagz! Added bonus: Sleeping Bagz! also prevents snagging your sheets or scratching your sleeping buddy, even if it is Lassie!

Sleeping Bagz! in Bright Blooms

Whether you’re wearing a cast, splint, brace, or walking boot, you can stay nice and cozy with CastCoverz! fleece cast protectors. For more tips on keeping your orthopedic walking boot warm and dry, check out our blog post: Keep Your Orthopedic Boot or Cast and Toes Warm and Dry This Winter

Take good and careful care!