Throughout the world, disposable gloves are used as protection measures against a wide variety of agents that could be very harmful to human health. However, there are still a large number of people who are reluctant to use them and we believe that this is due to ignorance of their use and usefulness. For that reason, today we want to write about disposable gloves and what they are for.
Types and uses of disposable gloves
Disposable gloves are garments that protect our hands from harmful substances and even prevent injuries. Their use is unique, that is, they can only be used once. In short, their purpose is to cover the hand in its entirety, including each finger.
There are gloves that cover the hand up to above the wrist, everything will depend on the type of glove worn.
These disposable gloves are manufactured with a wide variety of materials and are classified according to the risk assumed or faced by their wearer. That is why there are polyethylene, vinyl or pvc, nitrile or latex gloves. Because there are people allergic to latex, they should prefer other options such as vinyl or any other material.
Disposable Latex Gloves
This material is well known due to its firmness and elasticity, in fact, it is the most demanded precisely because of its adaptation and resistance qualities. This material is also antibacterial and antifungal, making it ideal and mandatory to use in the cleaning, sanitary and chemical industries.
It is important to note that latex gloves are unable to protect us from injuries caused by sharp or pointed objects, so we must be very careful when faced with these risks. The disposable latex glove comes in two versions:
Sterile disposable gloves. These are surgical gloves and of course they are widely demanded for complex medical practices such as treating a wound or complex burns.
Non-sterile disposable gloves. Gloves of this type are used in less demanding tasks, such as bathing a person, administering an injection, etc. In fact, they are very useful to avoid directly touching body fluids. They are also often used by people who perform body tattoos.
Nitrile Disposable Gloves
Black nitrile gloves Nitrile is a synthetic fiber with properties very similar to latex, but, unlike it, nitrile is anti-allergic. In addition, this material also offers great resistance to chemical products. For this reason, disposable nitrile gloves are the most widely used in laboratories that handle biohazardous material.
Of this type of gloves we also find two types:
Powder free disposable nitrile. Its texture is rougher and it has greater resistance to perforations. They are specially designed for the health area. Disposable sterile nitrile gloves offer greater tactile sensitivity, also greater resistance to tears or cuts and their shape is ergonomic, so they allow any surgical practice to be carried out with precision.
Thick nitrile. This type of glove is made with double material. Being the palm of nitrile and the back of polyester. This feature makes it ideal for carrying out industrial work since by using them we can deal with both chemical and mechanical risks. For this reason, non-sterile nitrile gloves are applicable to the following fields: Automotive, cleaning, electronics, food industry, painting works, hairdressing and tattoos, laboratories, pharmaceuticals and dentistry.
Polyurethane Disposable Gloves
Polyurethane is a fine synthetic fiber that provides great resistance to mechanical risks. It is also very flexible, allowing with its use the performance of good maneuvers with comfort and ergonomics. This is a very efficient type of glove, it can be used in both wet and dry environments without losing grip.
Another characteristic of this material is that it allows greater tactile sensitivity, being extremely useful for a wide variety of professional applications.
Under what circumstances should disposable gloves be used?
There are circumstances in which the use of disposable gloves is essential, as these help us protect not only our body from infections, but also that of patients in case of being health personnel.
Well, gloves help us keep our hands clean, greatly reducing the probability of contracting microbes that could make us sick.
Gloves are required under all circumstances when handling blood samples, body tissues, body fluids, mucous membranes, or broken skin. Gloves should always be worn even if the patient appears healthy and shows no signs of any microbes.
It Is Important to Choose the Appropriate Gloves
Boxes or containers of disposable gloves are regularly available in all patient care rooms or areas. But, these gloves come in different sizes so it is important to choose an appropriate size.
If you don’t choose the correct size, if not oversized gloves, for example, it will be difficult for you to hold or manipulate objects that require precision, and, in addition, you expose yourself to the fact that germs could penetrate your gloves. If you choose them too small, they will rip in full use.
Disposable gloves come in numbered sizes from 5.5 to 9, so it helps to know your size before you need to wear these gloves.
- Put on gloves correctly
- Wash and dry your hands very well
- Take the glove with one hand and insert the other
- Repeat the same procedure with the other hand
- Take off your gloves properly
- You must make sure that the outside of the gloves does not touch their bare hands. To do this you must remove your gloves:
- Grasping the top of the right glove by the edge of the wrist with the left hand.
- Pulling the same towards the tips of the fingers. So the glove will be turned inside out.
- Holding the empty glove with the left hand.
- Putting two fingers of the right hand now on top of the left glove.
- Also pull toward the fingertips until you flip the glove inside out, removing it from your hand. The right glove will now be inside the left glove.
Throwing the gloves in a waste container.
When you change patients, also change your gloves by washing your hands as well to avoid germs.
Only then can you safely discard them and you will not be contaminated by microbes or toxic substances.