If             you're         like           most           kids,  
you've         probably       broken         a              bone   
before.        Or             you            know           someone
else           who            has.           Have           you    
seen           a              cast           before?        Do     
you            know           how            casts          work?  
What           they're        made           of?            Whether
it's           OK             to             draw           on     
them?          Read           this           article        to     
find           out            all            about          casts. 
Think          of             a              cast           as     
a              big            bandage        that           has    
two            layers.        There          is             a      
soft           cotton         layer.         It             rests  
next           to             the            skin.          The    
hard           outer          layer          prevents       the    
broken         bone           from           moving.        Sometimes
you            can            choose         how            your   
cast           looks.         You            can            pick   
cool           colors         or             patterns.      Plaster
casts          are            usually        white.         They   
are            made           from           plaster        of     
Paris.         You            may            have           used   
this           for            school         art            projects.
Plaster        of             Paris          is             a      
heavy          white          powder.        When           it's   
mixed          with           water,         it             forms  
a              thick          paste          that           gets   
hard           fast.          Fiberglass     casts          are    
made           of             fiberglass.    It             is     
a              plastic        material.      It             can    
be             shaped.        Fiberglass     casts          come   
in             lots           of             colors.        If     
you're         lucky,         the            doctor         may    
let            you            pick           the            color. 
These          casts          are            lighter        and    
stronger       than           plaster        casts.         You    
don't          want           to             get            your   
cast           wet.           Water          will           cause  
the            cast           to             become         loose  
or             come           off.           If             you    
take           a              bath,          you            have   
to             cover          the            cast           with   
a              plastic        bag.           Luckily,       some   
casts          are            also           waterproof.    This   
means          you            can            get            them   
wet            without        ruining        the            cast.  
So             you            can            take           a      
shower         or             a              bath           without
having         to             protect        the            cast   
with           a              plastic        bag            or     
sleeve.        The            soft           padding        beneath
is             made           of             waterproof     material.
The            top            layer          is             made   
of             fiberglass.    With           this           type   
of             cast,          you            might          even   
be             able           to             swim!          The    
cast           may            be             on             your   
arm.           If             so,            you            may    
be             given          a              sling          to     
help           you            support        and            carry  
it.            A              sling          is             a      
wide           piece          of             cloth          with   
straps.        The            straps         go             around 
your           neck.          They           are            attached
to             the            cloth          that           goes   
around         your           arm.           You            may    
have           broken         your           leg.           If     
so,            you            might          get            crutches
to             help           you            walk.          You    
may            have           broken         a              bone   
falling        down           or             tripping.      When   
you            break          a              bone,          the    
broken         pieces         can            have           sharp  
edges.         When           you            move           the    
broken         area,          the            sharp          edges  
can            move           and            cause          pain.  
Your           doctor         will           make           sure   
that           all            the            pieces         of     
your           broken         bone           are            set