Are you having trouble putting on latex gloves? Don’t worry; you’re not the only one. Donning thin and tight gloves, especially ones with long cuffs, can be tricky. Unlike regular gloves, long rubber gloves might tear or split easily. Whether you’re looking for a guide to put on your long opera or medical gloves, we got you covered.
First, take off all hand jewelry, cover any open wound, and wash your hands thoroughly. Then, gently roll or fold the cuffs from the inside out until their ends meet the wrist. Finally, pull the twists to don the gloves one after another. It is important to only touch the area near the wrist while donning.
If you’re working in the medical or food industry, learning the proper donning techniques is vital to prevent contamination. Dive in for a step-by-step guide on how to put on long latex gloves.
Table of Contents
What to Prepare
Before we begin, grab your gloves and make sure they meet the following criteria:
- Fitting: The gloves must fit snugly but not be The rubber should wrap around your fingers without leaving much extra room, allowing freedom of finger movements. The cuffs should not be too loose either. Both fashionable and medical rubber gloves are available in different sizes. You should measure your hands to buy the right size. It is troublesome to don and take off a wrong fitting.
- Integrity: You might have not noticed, but latex gloves do have a shelf life. Generally, they expire after five years if stored in proper conditions. Also, check for visible splits, tears, and other defects. Due to the elasticity and thinness of rubber gloves, they can be damaged easily. Never use expired or damaged ones.
Steps to Don Long Latex Gloves Properly
Step 1: Wash your hands
Firstly, take off all jewelry from your hands and fold the sleeves up if you’re wearing a long-sleeved top. Remember to cover any open wound with bandages. Then, wash your hands thoroughly with medical soap and clean water. Never use petroleum-based hand lotions or alcohol-based hand rubs as they may affect the integrity of the gloves.
Step 2: Roll the cuffs
Manufacturers usually fold the cuffs before packaging. If you’re using new disposable gloves, open the package, place them on a clean flat surface, and move to the next step. But if you’re reusing rubber gloves, roll the cuff inside out until its end meets the wrist. If your gloves are not too long, fold in half lengthwise to save time.
Step 3: Don the gloves
Now that the cuffs are out of the way, you can sneak your fingers in without any trouble. Carefully roll the cuffs out. However, you need to be more attentive with medical ones, please follow these steps to don:
- Gently open one glove at the cuff and insert one hand into it. If it helps, you can blow up the inside. In addition, keeping your fingers straight makes it easier. While donning, only touch a restricted surface near the twist.
- With your gloved hand, pick up the other glove without touching the inside. Then, sneak your hand into it.
- Now, cautiously pull the cuffs all the way out and pinch the gloves to adjust. Ensure that your fingers are comfortable.
Tasks that involve contacting a large amount of blood and bodily fluids require double gloving. Repeat the steps to don your second pair of latex gloves. Refer to this video for a visualized guide:
Step 4: Take off the gloves
To avoid damaging long opera gloves, roll the cuffs to take them off. For medical gloves, use the following steps:
- Pinch the outside of one glove and pull it off from the inside out. Don’t contact your skin with the gloves’ outside. Then, ball it up in the gloved hand.
- To take off the other glove, slide two fingers underneath the cuff, slowly roll and wrap the other glove in it.
- Finally, dispose of the gloves and sanitize your hands.
Cautions When Wearing Latex Gloves
For many people, exposure to latex may result in allergic reactions. In recent years, reports of allergic cases have increased. The longer you expose yourself to the rubber, the more likely you develop an allergy.
Mild reactions include skin rash, redness, hives, or itching. Severe symptoms involve a runny nose, scratchy throat, and itchy eyes. On a more serious level, reactions like difficulty breathing and shock might occur.
If you notice any of the symptoms above, it’s best to avoid latex gloves. There are many alternative rubbers, such as vinyl, nitrile, and neoprene. When you wear latex gloves to perform medical procedures, both you and the patient might be at risk of latex allergic reactions.
Conclusion
Putting on rubber gloves is not difficult, yet should never be done carelessly. Instead of overstretching the gloves to put them on, learn the proper techniques. Besides helping you save time and extending the gloves’ lifespan, appropriate donning will protect you from the risk of contamination.
If you found this tutorial on how to put on long latex gloves helpful, please share it with the people around you. We welcome all thoughts and questions via the contact page. So, don’t hesitate to reach out. Thank you for your attention!
Veronica is our content editor. She is a talent in delivery. Her main work is editing and writing articles that are both informative and simple to follow. She is in charge of synthesizing our understanding of what personal protection equipment (PPE) is needed in each job, how to best apply it, and how to visualize that equipment.