Nitrile gloves are a popular choice for healthcare professionals who need to work with sensitive and/or potentially infectious materials. When properly used, nitrile gloves can protect healthcare workers from the transmission of infections and the spread of germs. However, their misuse or failure to follow proper procedure can result in exposure to pathogens that could pose a threat to health. This article shares my top tips for safe and effective nitrile glove use.

Get to Know Your Gloves

When researching and buying gloves, it’s important to know how your gloves will be used. The type of gloves you purchase will directly affect how well they protect you and your patients. If you’re unsure whether a particular type of glove will protect you, use the following tips to get the information you need. These gloves are made of a synthetic material that provides protection against the cold. However, they don’t offer the same level of protection as a proper pair of gloves would have against the elements.

As such, if you’re frequently cold- Exposure and gloves play a crucial role in preventing and controlling cold-related illness and generating the right amount of heat to prevent hypothermia. Some gloves are equipped with “compartmentalized” fingers and thumb that can help protect against specific types of objects such as metal chains, rope, and other things that don’t belong in a glove compartment. However, some gloves, like the Scholl® Sensitive, are specifically made to handle sensitive materials such as paints, chemicals, and other things that could cause irritation or infection.

Pay Attention To The Environment

Rigorously follow the manufacturer’s instructions for safe and effective nitrile glove use. Always wear gloves when handling chemicals, radiation, or other potentially toxic or dangerous substances. These substances can be found in abundance in today’s society, and proper storage and handling of these materials are crucial to preventing exposure and the development of illness.

Wear gloves while cleaning, painting, shining, picking, loading, unloading, or when handling hazardous materials. These steps will help you ensure that you’re following safe and proper procedures when handling chemicals, radiation, and other potentially toxic or dangerous substances.

Wear The Appropriate Protection

When choosing the right pair of gloves for the job, it’s important to choose the right ones for the environment in which you work. The type of gloves you choose will directly affect the protection you can provide for your patients and workers.

For example, if you’re often exposed to chemicals in the workplace, it may be best to choose gloves made of a different material so that you’re less likely to develop field-related chemical sensitivities. While brushes, sponges, and other cleaning tools may be used on a daily basis, the chemicals can migrate through the skin’s capillaries and into the bloodstream if you’re not careful.

Don’t Touch Something You Can’t Have

The most important tip of all when it comes to safe and effective nitrile glove use is this one: Don’t touch anything you can’t have! This one’s pretty self-explanatory, right? While it’s true that you shouldn’t handle something that you can’t have, there are some exceptions. For example, if you’re cleaning a wound, you may be able to handle the material safely using a knife and alcohol pads. And, of course, if there’s a risk of transmission, you must wash your hands thoroughly after handling a potentially infectious material.