What happens if your cast gets soaked

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Goodwin says. So, avoid the swimming pool. And try sponge baths instead of showers. Use a plastic bag or special cast cover available in stores for splash protection. Bathtub dunks and other accidents do happen, however. If your child gets his or her cast wet, call the doctor as soon as possible.

The cast should be replaced within 24 hours. Waterproof casts — which can be completely submerged in fresh water — are an option for some.

Also steer clear of sand, dirt and other granules that can infiltrate a cast and irritate skin. Next, the plaster or fiberglass outer layer is soaked in water. The doctor wraps the plaster or fiberglass around the soft first layer. The outer layer is wet but will dry to a hard, protective covering. Doctors sometimes make tiny cuts in the sides of a cast to allow room for swelling.

Absolutely not! A wet cast may not hold the bone in place because the cast could start to dissolve in the water and could irritate the skin underneath it, possibly leading to infection.

And instead of a shower, your child may need to take a sponge bath. Although the fiberglass itself is waterproof, the padding inside a fiberglass cast is not.

If this is a problem, talk to the doctor about getting a waterproof liner. Fiberglass casts with waterproof liners let kids continue bathing or even go swimming during the healing process. Also, only certain types of breaks can be treated with this type of cast. Your doctor will determine if the fracture may be safely treated with a waterproof cast. That often makes the whole broken bone experience more bearable for kids. Permanent markers usually work best; washable ones can smear.

Feel free to encourage siblings, family members, and classmates to sign it, draw pictures on it, or decorate it with stickers. The doctor might even let your child keep the adorned cast as a souvenir. Try blowing some air in the cast with a hair dryer — be sure to use the cool setting, though. But a cast can't do its job without proper care. Find out more about the basics of cast care. A cast can cause your child's underlying skin to feel itchy.

To relieve itchy skin, turn a hair dryer on a cool setting and aim it under the cast. Don't allow your child to stick objects, such as a coat hanger, inside the cast to scratch his or her skin. This could cause an injury or infection. That depends on the type of cast your child has.

In general, casts are meant to stay dry. A wet cast can lead to skin irritation or infection. Plaster casts and fiberglass casts with conventional padding aren't waterproof. Keep your child's cast dry during baths or showers by covering it with two layers of plastic, sealed with a rubber band or duct tape. Avoid swimming while wearing a cast that isn't waterproof. A fiberglass cast that has a waterproof liner can get wet.

Only certain types of breaks can be treated with a waterproof cast and liner. Ask your doctor if it's safe for your child to get his or her cast wet. If the cast does get wet, you might be able to dry out the inside padding with a hair dryer. Use a low heat setting to avoid burning or irritating the skin.