If you have DDH in your house you will find you need a whole new first aid kit! 

We suggest finding a good local chemist where you can get to know the pharmacist so you know that you can get the items you need quickly and easily. Of course, Amazon is also a great resource!

Basic DDH Kit Equipment

• Antiseptic hand gel and wipes
• Cotton wool
• Emollient creams and Sudocrem
• General first aid kit to cover all eventualities
• Medical gloves
• Medicine spoons / syringes for medicines
• Plaster assortment.
• Nail or toothbrush for cleaning the cast
• Clean, sharp scissors
• Thermometer

We also suggest buying a torch and keeping it handy so you can check the skin inside the cast.

Medicines

• Calpol (paracetamol) for pain relief as needed
• Nurofen (Ibuprofen) for pain relief as needed but check with your surgeon or GP with regard to ongoing use with this
• Rescue Remedy gummy stars
• Recuse Remedy for you!
• Movicol for constipation; take direction from your doctor on this

Tapes and Padding
There are many tapes and padding on the market that can be used with spica casts. Chemists and online retailers are the best places to get these but some hospitals do provide a limited supply when you are discharged. 

Cellona is an adhesive padding that is great to use on hard cast edges.

Cohesive sports bandage sticks to itself and not to skin or hair and we found it helpful. It is easy to use and because it adheres to itself you do not need pins or tape and it looks good and hides marks and dirt without trapping the smell.

Gamgee Gauze Tissue is a thick layer of highly absorbent cotton wool enclosed in an absorbent cotton gauze cover. It’s great for under-cast padding and particularly useful for preventing pressure sores.

Moleskin is a stick-on padding that protects against painful friction and cushions the skin from the cast.

Sleek Tape is waterproof adhesive strapping and great for using around the edges of the spica. It is strong and pretty reliable but also had a slight stretch that allows it to mold to the cast just make sure there are no sharp edges to irritate skin.

Nappies and Toileting

• Disposable or cloth nappies in various sizes and strengths
• Incontinence pads
• Sanitary towels

Funnels allow girls to keep their independence and saves blushes whilst in casts:

• Whiz Freedom – whizproducts.co.uk
• Lady Funnel – beambridgemedical.com
• Shewee – shewee.com

There are a variety of bedpans and urinals on the market that are ideal for bedside use or when out and about or at school. They are hygienic and designed for use whilst sitting, standing or lying down. The female adaptor is easy to fit and the snap on lid helps prevent accidental spillages on casts.

www.welcomemobility.co.uk is a good place to find a wide range of these products.

When using them to start with just ensure there are no spills on the cast, a couple of practice runs might be needed.

Good luck and if you have any questions, get in touch.