Cast Care for Kids

Welcome to our health education library. The information shared below is provided to you as an educational and informational source only and is not intended to replace a medical examination or consultation, or medical advice given to you by a physician or medical professional.

Cast Care for Kids

A cast helps your body heal. A damaged cast can prevent your injury from healing well. If your cast becomes damaged, it may need to be replaced. This may make healing take longer. Take good care of your cast to help it last.

Keep Your Cast Dry

If a plaster cast gets wet, it can soften and fall apart. And if the padding of a synthetic cast gets wet, it can irritate and damage your skin. So plaster and synthetic casts must stay dry. Avoid activities that can get your cast wet. Take special care to keep your cast dry when you bathe or shower. Also take care if it's raining or snowing outside. To keep your cast dry:

• Wrap your cast in plastic wrap or one or more plastic bags. Use heavy tape to secure the plastic so water won't leak in.

• Don't soak your cast in water, even if it's wrapped in plastic.

• Cover your cast with waterproof clothing or plastic if you must go out in rain or snow.

• If your cast does get wet, try drying it as soon as possible. To do this, use a hair dryer set to cool.

What NOT to Do

If your cast is damaged, it can't do its job of holding your injury in place. And the skin under your cast is easily hurt. To protect your cast and your skin:

• Don't stick things in your cast, even to scratch your skin. Objects put in your cast may get stuck. Also, your skin may be cut and become infected. If your skin itches, try blowing cool air into the cast with a hair dryer.

• Don't cut or tear your cast. Cover any rough edges of the cast with cloth tape. (You can buy this at a pharmacy.) Never try to remove your cast yourself.

• Don't pick at the padding of your cast. Padding protects your skin and must be kept intact.