Re: Day 2 in Hanger Helmet- heat rash

[Guest guest]

Hi there

Sorry- there must have been some confusion. You don't clean the

helmet every hour, just once a day. Most helmets are cleaned once a

day with 90% alcohol to kill any germs by getting a cloth (old

washcloth or whatever) and getting it damp, not wet, and scrubbing

away inside. This is done at the start of the hour off (the helmet

is on for 23 hours a day and off for one hour a day). The helmet is

then left to dry for the remainder of the hour so that it is

completely evaporated and can't cause irritation.

Now it may be that your Hanger helmet is cleaned slightly

differently (as someone else has already said they use water on it)

and it is best to follow the exact advice given by the orthotist,

but the trick is whatever you use, use very little product, scrub

away yourself and only clean it say once a day, even if the helmet

gets a bit stinky. Over-enthusiastic cleaning can result in

irritation especially in sensitive skin (even though it might seem a

perfectly reasonable thing to want to do especially if it stinks a

bit early on).

As for the continuing rash, I would leave the band off until the

rash at least dies away a bit. Otherwise as soon as the band goes

back on, it will just worsen again (trust me, I've done this). Wait

til it is not so angry or nearly gone, then try it for a short

period of time (say 15 min or more) then have a peek, if that's ok,

go for an hour, if that's ok, just go back to the usual wearing

schedule (23 hours or whatever). But if it is a heat rash and has

got angry, it will take quite a few hours, maybe a day to die down

(and if she itches it or it is still really hot, then it will still

look angry, so watch for this too)

As for keeping your daughter cool, it's just a must with the helmet.

The helmet is insulating, so it won't harm her to dress her more

lightly indoors. The helmet is another piece of clothing which is

plastic and insulating- imagine how hot she is with it on- she is

literally sweating through heat. So early on, especially with your

daughter who sounds like she has had a nasty heat rash, you must

keep her cool just as you would if she had a fever. Otherwise she

will be uncomfortable, itching and unable to wear the helmet due to

rashes.

BTW- I always think germs thrive in a warm environment, so I'm sure

it won't hurt to turn the central heating down a tiny bit!

When you go out, of course you have to wrap her up warm. But just be

aware she might overheat with too many scarves/mittens/footmuffs etc

and also when you go into a shop and she is dressed heavily, she

will again overheat so take the coat off when you get there.

She will adjust really fast to the new increased temperature with

the helmet, so don't worry, this is just for a couple of weeks til

it normalises.

Do ask again if you have any queries

Hannah

(mum to Lucia, London, UK)

Cranio graad

> > > I would like to thank everyone for their support. I am

> disappointed

> > to

> > > report a roadblock. My daughter was in the helmet all night

for

> > 10 hours. She

> > > slept through the night nicely, she did fall asleep later

and

> woke

> > up earlier

> > > than usually. But just by 1 hour total. Then I took it

off

> this

> > morning for

> > > an hour and then back on for 4 hours after that. Then I

took

> it

> > off because

> > > I noticed sweat dripping down her face and the helmet kept

> falling

> > to her

> > > eyebrows. I cleaned her head and the helmet and then I

noticed

> > that she has

> > > developed a rash around the perimeter of the helmet. It is

red

> > and pimply. The

> > > bottom back of her head right above her neck is also red and

> rashy

> > looking.

> > > So I haven't put it on since. So she has been out of it for

> > almost 6 hours

> > > and she is still red and rashy. So I am deciding if I

should

> put

> > it on

> > > tonight for bed or if I should just leave it off and call

the

> > technician tomorrow.

> > > What do you guys think. A friend of mine suggested that I

put

> a

> > thin layer

> > > of cloth over her head and then put on the helmet. Will

that

> > affect

> > > results? I don't want to reapply a helmet if her rash is

still

> > red. I will also

> > > ask about the gold bound powder. I am so confused and upset

> that

> > I am about to

> > > go to another neurologist for a second opinion. Again

thanks

> for

> > all the

> > > help. The helmet issue was hard enough for me to deal with

but

> now

> > the rashes

> > > and sweating are making it even worse. Help!!!!

>

>

>

>

>

>