Body Casting Payout

As a follow-up to our entry on 20-4-07 about the girl who got her fingers burned off in a hideous accident. At school, she put her hand in a bucket of plaster of paris as part of an art project (to make a cast of her hand). The plaster heated up (as it does) and caused horrific injuries.

The girl has won a payout in court - see Sky News article.

We at RAM consider plaster of paris should be banned for body casting purposes. Does anyone else have any views anecdotes on this subject?

Comments

  1. Unknown7 November 2009 at 00:25

    I was horrified at what happened to this poor girl. We us alginate on the body under the plaster, but we also use plaster of paris bandages directly on the skin for body casting large areas of the body. But the layers are thin (3) and won't generate much heat.

    I've heard lots of stories about people who "did this at school" and got body hair stuck in the plaster - apparently public hair and chest hair really hurts when you pull it out! (they didn't use a release agent like vaseline on the body first).

    So, I think life models need to be more knowledgeable of body casting techniques and the use of plaster of paris. Artists should be expert on these things - and most body caster are - but those knew to this art form are experimental ... and you don't want any of them to be practicising on you!

    There is an International Association of Lifecasters which we all adhere to. Perhaps you should raise the bar and ask them to provide lifecasting fact sheets for models? http://www.lifecasting.org/

    Jane
    http://www.bodycastingsydney.com.au

    ReplyDelete
  2. RAM Director7 November 2009 at 02:17

    Hi Jane

    Thanks for your input. Unfortunately, although not as widespread as it used to be, it still goes on. RAM's view, really, is that the practice should be banned, because of the huge risks involved if correct procedure isn't followed. I'll definitely ask about fact sheets, though. Good idea- thank you.

    ReplyDelete

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