Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - Part (2)

GLOVES:

Gloves have become one of the most important in PPE, gloves help to protect hands against chemicals or contaminants, the unprotected hands are much more susceptible to injury and exposure to harmful substances. The gloves extended to cover the wrist. There are some alternative names for gloves they are infection control wearing gloves, patient safety wearing gloves, personal protective wearing gloves, nosocomial infection wearing gloves, hospital-acquired infection wearing gloves.

IS THERE ANY PURPOSE OF USING GLOVES?

• Wearing gloves helps to protect both patients and health care workers from infections.
• Gloves protect exposure to skin contact from chemicals, infectious agents, heat, cold and cutting objects.
• Gloves help to keep your hands clean and prevent the chance of getting germs.
• Gloves prevent you from risk by direct contact with blood, bodily fluids, bodily tissue, mucous membrane and broken skin.
• Gloves reduce the risk of germ dissemination to the environment.
• Gloves must be used to prevent contamination and reduce the transmission of pathogens.

HOW TO CHOOSE A GLOVE?

All gloves are not equally effective in preventing skin contact, especially from chemical exposures. Some chemicals even permeate gloves so the selection of gloves play a vital they are:-

• You must know which type of gloves work for the job will greatly increase worker safety.
• The gloves must be acts as the requirements for performance and comfort.
• The gloves must be fit properly because the unfit gloves may cause discomfort to wear.
• Be aware of choosing the right material and construction, because it should protect our hands from hazards.
• Always remember that gloves need to be inspected on a regular basis to avoid glove failure.
• Always check the glove for abrasions and puncture.
• Always check the grip of the gloves, the secure grip of the gloves play a vital role because when the workers cannot grasp properly or securely, it may result in injury.
• Always check the size of the gloves because if it is too large it will slide on the hands and it won’t provide protection. Men and women have different requirements relative to glove sizes and shapes.
• Always check the gloves for heat protection from low to extreme temperatures.

WHEN A GLOVE SHOULD BE USED?

• Gloves should be worn when there is a risk of infection.
• Wear gloves only when it is necessary.
• Gloves must be worn when you have direct contact with blood, body fluids and mucus membrane.
• Don’t use the powdered gloves when you are in the healthcare profession because it causes an allergic reaction.

HOW THE GLOVE SHOULD BE?

The gloves worn by health professionals should be free of powder, sterile, textured and coated for extra protection.

TYPES OF GLOVES:

Based on the materials gloves are classified into three they are:-

1. Latex

2. Nitrile

3. vinyl

LATEX: The latex gloves are natural material made out of rubber. The latex gloves are used for handling hazardous substances and maximum stretchability. The latex gloves may be powdered or powder-free.

• It is flexible and sensitivity to touch
• It gives moderate protection and provides a great fit, it works well for high-risk situations.
• It is cost-effective
• It is very elastic, strong and biodegradable.
• The disadvantage is that it can cause allergies and skin irritation.

NITRILE GLOVES: The nitrile gloves tend to be the most favoured glove material for those working in the healthcare industry. It is made up of synthetic rubber, it is the superior glove when it comes to puncture resistance.

• It is latex-free, protein-free, allergy-free
• Resist many chemicals
• It provides a great fit for your hands
• It has a long shelf life period
• It works well for high-risk situations from infectious material.
• It gives a high level of protection and durability.

VINYL GLOVES: The vinyl gloves are a popular choice for the food industry, it is less expensive, in hospitals the vinyl gloves are used for low-risk conditions, it acts as disposable gloves.

• It is latex-free
• It is good for short term and low-risk task
• It is the most economic option
• It is best for the use of non-hazardous materials.
• It is not durable and sensitive to the touch
• It gives moderate protection

Based on the work the gloves is classified into two they are:-

1. Exam gloves

2. Surgical gloves

EXAM GLOVES:- 

• During the examination the healthcare professionals working as caregivers, so it is important to protect themselves and others from cross contaminations.
• Exam gloves are great in unsanitary situations and they can be disposed of after every use.
• These exam gloves are made in latex, vinyl or nitrile with the required thickness level as the healthcare professional needed.

SURGICAL GLOVES:-

• The surgeons wore these surgical gloves and also the healthcare professionals who have direct contact with blood, infections, sharp tools and other harmful objects and substances.
• Always remember to wear high-quality surgical gloves, for this nitrile is mostly preferred due to their puncture resistance and extreme durability. 

HOW TO DON THE GLOVES:-

1. Choose the proper glove size for you and ensure that your hands are clean.
2. If you are wearing any jewellery remove that.
3. Wash your hands thoroughly before you touch your gloves.
4. Open the gloves and remove the inner wrap then pick up your dominant hand glove.
5. Place the glove onto your dominant hand, let the glove hang with the fingers pointing downward.
6. Slip-on the second glove, put the fingers of your gloved hand into the folded cuff of the other glove.
7. Adjust your gloves and check the gloves for rips.
8. Look over each hand glove thoroughly, if you notice any visible rips, tears or any other issues re-wash your hands and put new gloves.

HOW TO REMOVE THE GLOVES:-

1. Outside of the gloves are contaminated!
2. If your hands get contaminated during glove removal, immediately wash your hands or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
3. Using a gloved hand, grasp the palm area of the other gloved hand and peel off the first glove.
4. Hold remove glove in the gloved hand.
5. Slide fingers of ungloved hand under remaining glove at the wrist and peel off the second glove over the first glove.
6. Discard gloves in a waste container.

DO’S AND DON’TS 

DO’S:

• DO wear gloves to reduce the risk of contamination or exposure to blood, other body fluids, hazardous materials, and transmission of infection.
• DO clean hands before putting on gloves for a sterile procedure.
• DO clean hands after removing gloves.
• DO clean hands and change gloves between each task.
• DO make sure that gloves fit you properly before performing any tasks.
• DO ensure the correct type of glove is available if you have skin sensitivity or allergy reaction.
• DO wear gloves in hemodialysis settings for any contact with the patient or the patient’s equipment.
• DO follow hygiene guidance.

DONT’S:

 DON’T re-use or wash gloves.

 DON’T substitute glove use for hand hygiene.

 DON’T use non-approved hand lotions.

 DON’T use gloves if they are damaged or visibly soiled.

 DON’T touch your face when wearing gloves.

 DON’T wear the same pair of gloves from one patient to another.

 DON’T forget to remove and dispose of gloves properly. 

Part 1 👈                          👉 Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7