Care for Your Cast

As you might know, there are various types of casts that one can be made to wear for different medicinal purposes. Whichever part of your body is encased in a cast, there are some common precautions that are necessary, for the required healing and to avoid complications.

- Keep the cast clean and dry. If you don’t, you could end up with a serious skin irritation

- Make sure you don’t crack or break the cast from anywhere. Its benefit is in its remaining intact.

- Pad it if it feels rough on the skin. Otherwise this can lead to scratches on your skin or a bruise.

- Never insert an object to scratch the skin under a cast.

- The best way to subside itchiness is to use a hairdryer to blow air under the cast. This will cool your skin and dry it up to stop the itch. Be sure to use the cool air setting on the hairdryer and not to blow hot air under the cast, as this will increase the hotness of the skin and augment the itch.

- Do not, under any circumstances put lotion or powder inside a plaster cast.

- Be careful that food crumbs do not enter your cast when you are eating food. It is better to cover your cast when eating food so as to avoid spilling food on or into your cast.

- A cast is not a toy you play with. It might be hard but it is also breakable. Be careful that a child (or for that matter an adult) with a cast, does not put small toys or objects inside the cast.

- To avoid or reduce swelling or inflation, keep your cast above heart level as much as possible.

- One of the side effects of a cast could be less blood circulation in the area. If you have a hand or leg/foot cast try and keep your toes and fingers moving to keep the blood circulation going.

- People with body casts should generally avoid moving too much. Use a bedpan or urinal to avoid excessive trips to the washroom.

It is possible that even after care, some irregularities might develop. Listed below are some signs that warrant an immediate check up by a doctor

- If the person in the cast has a fever greater than 101° F.

- If the pain, instead of subsiding increases.

- If swelling increases, above or below the cast.

- If there is abnormal tingling on the skin under the cast.

- If fingers feel too cold for comfort.

----------------------------------------------------------------------


Looking for high quality and reliable wound bandages -or- wound dressings? Look no further! Our top quality products are simply perfect for everyone.