Casts help a bruised arm heal. Usually applied by medical professionals, they keep the bones and muscles of the arm in place. To do an arm cast, use these tips.
Steps
Step 1. Cut a medical grade elastic gauze tube
- Unroll a tube of elastic gauze. It should be 5cm wide.
- Place the unrolled gauze on your forearm.
- Cut the ends of the gauze with scissors. The strip should start about 2.5 cm above the elbow and reach 2.5 cm beyond the knuckles of the hand.
- Cut a hole for the thumb. Make a cut in the gauze about 1.3 cm for the thumb. Practice cutting at a 45-degree angle.
Step 2. Slip your arm into the gauze
Run your thumb through the 1.3 cm hole.
Step 3. Apply the bandage
- Start unrolling the 7.5cm bandage onto your wrist. Wrap it once around your wrist. As you wrap your wrist, hold the starting end of the bandage in place so it can't move, twist, or slip.
- Wrap the bandage twice around your hand. Do not wrap your fingers. Cut the bandage that goes over the thumb if it builds up.
- Wrap the bandage around your wrist, moving your arm towards the elbow with each turn. Make sure that each new step around the arm overlaps about 30% of the previous step. As you wrap it around your arm, keep the bandage taut.
- Stop below the elbow. The cover should end below the elbow, leaving about two horizontally placed fingers between the cover and the elbow.
- Wrap your arm again. Stop at the wrist.
- Cut the remaining part of the bandage with a pair of scissors.
Step 4. Soak the plaster
- Place one 7.5cm and one 10cm roll of chalk in a tub filled with hot water. The edges of the rolls should be facing up. Soak the cast just before applying it to your arm so it doesn't dry out.
- After the plaster has completely softened, remove it.
- Squeeze the plaster gently.
Step 5. Apply the first plaster roll
- Place the 7.5cm end of the cast on your hand, about 1.3cm below the top of the bandage. Wrap the chalk around your hand twice.
- Continue wrapping it around your arm, moving down towards the elbow. Do not stretch the plaster. With one hand, flatten the applied plaster while you apply it. Make sure that each new step of the plaster overlaps the previous one.
- Stop about 1 cm before the edge of the bandage near the elbow.
Step 6. Apply the second chalk roll
- Place the 10cm end of the cast near the elbow where the 7.5cm cast ends. Wrap the cast around your arm, making your way towards the hand. Do not stretch the plaster. Press gently with your hand on the applied plaster, to make it smooth.
- Stop below the thumb.
- Fold the protruding bandage over the plaster.
- Wrap the last piece of plaster over the bandage to secure the bandage. There should be about half an inch of gauze past the end of the cast on the hand.
Step 7. Smooth out the cast
Gently press your hands on the cast to flatten it.
Step 8. Cut the cast
Trim the excess cast from the thumb so that the thumb can move freely.
