Proper Use of Medical Gloves

The use of exam gloves in the medical field is essential to prevent the spread of infection and diseases from patients to health-care workers and vice versa. These gloves are used in a variety of situations ranging from routine examinations to surgery. The best medical exam gloves typically are made of latex, and they require proper use to be efficient.

Before Putting On Gloves

• Wash your hands thoroughly and dry them completely before putting on exam gloves, according to DonTheGlove.com. Removing any contaminants from your hands before putting on the gloves will make the spread of any illness or contamination even less likely. Also, dry hands will slide into the latex gloves easily, as opposed to wet hands that might promote tearing or other deterioration of the latex. Any jewelry that might cause a problem with the gloves should be removed before putting them on, according to University of Kentucky Environmental Health and Safety. Rings, bracelets or other items worn on or around the hands might tear or otherwise interfere with the gloves. Be sure to match the thumbs of the gloves up with the hand and slide them on carefully, being careful not to rip the latex.

Removing Gloves

• Taking off medical exam gloves is a simple task but should be done carefully in the proper way to prevent contact with the bare hands and the outside of the contaminated glove. With one hand, grasp the cuff of the opposite glove and carefully pull the glove completely off the hand. This should turn the glove inside out. With the removed glove now in the gloved hand, wad the used glove up into a ball in the palm of the gloved hand, being careful not to touch anything with the unprotected hand. Use the index finger of the unprotected bare hand to slip underneath the cuff of the other glove and remove it by peeling it back off the hand carefully, not touching the outside. When you get this glove off it will act as a bag, holding the other glove. Discard these gloves in the proper receptacle and immediately wash hands thoroughly, according to University of Kentucky Environmental Health and Safety.

Double Gloving

• To reduce the risk of exposing yourself to blood-borne illnesses, wear two pairs of exam gloves on each hand in the operating room. This is called double gloving. There is a trend forming that shows more and more doctors are choosing to double glove in the operating room as it will decrease the chance of contact with bodily fluids by at least 70 percent, according to Ansell Healthcare Europe. Punctures of gloves during surgical procedures ranges from 11 to 43 percent.

Things To Avoid

• Do not use oil-based hand creams or other skin treatments on your hands before putting on exam gloves. The oil in these products can cause glove deterioration, according to DonTheGlove.com. If you have an allergy or sensitivity to natural rubber latex, do not use latex gloves. There are other materials used to make medical exam gloves that are available. Do not use the same gloves for different patients or purposes. Change gloves often, in between contact with each new person or at least once an hour during surgical procedures.