How to Make a Waterproof Sleeve for a Broken Arm

Breaking your arm will certainly keep you out of most athletic activities. Added to that list is swimming, and taking baths or showers with a cast on your arm is cumbersome, inconvenient and awkward. In order to do a simple task, like taking a shower, special needs must to be taken to waterproof your cast. There are two different types of casts: plaster and fiberglass. If a plaster cast were to get wet, it would simply fall apart and be destroyed. A fiberglass cast would not fall apart, but the padding underneath will get wet and can rot if not taken care of.

Things You'll Need

  • Saran wrap
  • Plastic bag
  • Latex gloves
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Begin by wrapping the cast in the saran wrap, starting at the top of the cast.

    • 2

      Apply several layers of the saran wrap before descending down the cast. Tuck the saran wrap into the cast at the top.

    • 3

      Continue wrapping the cast down the arm, remembering to pull the saran wrap tightly.

    • 4

      Wrap the saran wrap around the wrist and fingers. Poke a hole through the wrap to allow the thumb to come through. Tear a larger hole through the wrap so all four fingers can fit through, and tuck the wrap into the cast.

    • 5

      Wrap the saran wrap upwards after fitting the fingers through. Wrap all the up the cast, again tucking the wrap into the top of the cast.

    • 6

      Fit a plastic bag over the cast. Similar to the saran wrap, poke holes to fit fingers through and tuck the bag into the cast.

    • 7

      Put a latex glove on to the hand over the cast. This will allow you to use your hand freely in water.

Bone Fracture - Related Articles