Your child will be going home with a removable cast. This is also called a splint. A cast helps your child's body heal by holding injured bones or joints in place. A damaged cast can keep the injury from healing well. Take good care of your child's cast. If the cast becomes damaged, it may need to be replaced. Here's what you need to know about home care.

Your child has a broken ___________________ bone. This bone is in the ____________.

• Make sure your child wears the removable cast according to the doctor's instructions.
• Give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen as directed to control pain.
• Always keep the removable cast dry. Have your child bathe with the cast out of the water. They can hold the body part with the cast outside the tub or shower. Protect it with a large plastic bag. Close the bag with tape or rubber bands. Use 2 layers of plastic to help keep the cast dry. Or you can buy a waterproof shield.
• If the cast gets wet, dry it with a hair dryer on the “cool” setting. Don't use the warm or hot setting. Those settings can burn your child's skin.
• Have your child keep the cast clean and away from dirt.
• Don't cut or tear the cast.
• Keep the cast away from open flames.
• Don't let your child expose the cast to heat, space heaters, or a lot of sunlight. Too much heat will cause the cast to change shape.

• Clean the removable cast with soap and lukewarm water. Scrub it with a small brush.
• Use alcohol wipes to rub the inside of the cast. This is to reduce odor and bacteria.
• Wash the Velcro straps and inner cloth sleeve (stockinet) with soapy water. Then let it air dry.

• Have your child exercise all the nearby joints that are not limited in movement by the cast. If your child has a long leg cast, help them exercise the hip joint and toes. If your child has an arm cast, help them exercise the shoulder, elbow, thumb, and fingers.
• Raise the part of the body that is in the cast. Have your child do this as often as possible during the day. This helps reduce swelling.
• Your child may return to school, but activities, such as sports, should be cleared by your child's doctor first.

Make a follow-up appointment as directed by your child's doctor.

Contact the doctor right away if your child has any of the following:

• Fever or chills
• Tingling, numbness, or swelling in the affected area
• Severe pain that is not relieved with medicine
• Cast that feels too tight or too loose.
• Decreased ability to move arm or leg in the cast.
• Swelling, coldness, or blue-gray color in the fingers or toes
• Cast that is damaged, cracked, or has rough edges that hurt
• Pressure sores or red marks that don't go away within 1 hour after removing the cast
• Blisters