Keeping a hand dry

[gman]

Keeping a BROKEN hand dry

My son broke his hand today. He has surgery tomorrow to get pins put in. We leave for Maui next Friday. What is the best way to keep a hand dry while snorkling? I am thinking small plastic trash bags and duct tape. Anything else?
Thanks in advance.

 

[JennyWren]

Oh, that sucks, I hope he's ok. A google search reveals that there's something called a DryPro cast cover that might do the trick - but I'd suggest a few layers of snugly wrapped plastic wrap then a bag or two with the tape as you suggested. Hopefully the pins aren't sticking out too much or else that might make things tricky. Might be worth checking the local cheapo shops in Maui (ABC stores, etc) for a floaty board thing with a hole in it or something; if he's partially out of the water it would be easier to keep the arm dry, rather than having it submerged all the time.

Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[Jon]

I use these for freediving under the ice. They keep my hands completely dry.
They are expensive, but not as much as air fare to Hawaii.

DUI Dry 5 Wrist Seal Gloves - DUI Cold Water Gloves

Jon

 

[gman]

Wow!! Thanks folks for the tips. This was supposed to be his first exposure to free diving rather than surface snorkeling. I'm probably more bummed than he is. He is doing okay overall.

I had thought about the pins as well. I was going to find some cheap light foam and wrap a layer over the pins/cast, and then put several layers of plastic bags over the top of that. My other concern is cutting through the bags on the coral. My thought was something like a small dry bag to protect the plastic bags from the coral.

Thanks for the idea on the dry suit gloves. Those would be ideal. But I don't think they would fit over a cast and pins. I'll try and update tomorrow after I see the pins and cast configuration.

Thank you again very much for the insights.

 

[DeepThought]

Does that mean that you normally touch corals when snorkeling/diving?
It is claimed to be very harmful to corals and maybe the main reason touristic sites end up looking like crap after a few years...

 

[gman]

No it doesn't... Sorry for wrting that. What I meant to refer to was incidental contact with the rocks and other sharper-than-a-plastic-bag things that happen evertime someone goes in the water. Especially kids who don't have that smooth fishlike motion down pat.

I am aware of reef and coral conservation. It's one of the many things I plan to teach my boys next week.

By the way, we went to the local vet supply store and bought a bunch of shoulder length plastic gloves. We've experimented with rubber bands and plastic tape and think we have a good system down. Hopefully I can give some updates next weekend when we get back.

Thanks for everyone's thoughts and input.

 

[Jon]

Why don't you try gluing a drysuit wrist seal (latex type) to one of those vet gloves and see how it works.

 

[gman]

I'll see if we can find one at the local rental shop when we are over there. The trouble is that the cast has a splint curving the fourth and fifth fingers. The splint forms a big hoop from the back to the front sides of the cast.
The plastic gloves are HUGE and easily fit over the cast. I don't think a dry suit glove will have that much extra room. But we can look.

Thanks again.

 

[Jon]

You don't need the drysuit glove- just the wrist seal from a drysuit. Use your vet gloves and glue the wrist seal onto the open cuff. Make sure you get a large enough wrist seal to fit that far back on the arm and trim as needed. I understand that a standard dry glove wouldn't work due to the size of the cast.

Jon

 

[gman]

DOH!!!....:duh

I totally missed that concept. I was not reading what you were typing. I will definitely look it.

Thank you!

 

[gman]

UPDATE:

My wife went on line today and found the answer to our question:
Dry Pro Waterproof Cast Covers

then link to the arm section:
Dry Pro Arm Waterproof Cast Cover Sizes

We have a medical supply house in town so we will pick one up tomorrow in time for departure on Friday.:friday

Nothing like waiting until the last minute...
Thanks again for everyone's suggestions.