We are living in a time where the novel coronavirus disease has become the talk of the town. The person-to-person spread of COVID-19 is a common phenomenon in the public space. Even though health service providers have recommended wearing face masks as an effective way of preventing the spread of airborne diseases, some people have considered wearing vinyl gloves as a way to prevent getting infected.
Visit any food store, and you will see people wearing gloves as they shop. In fact, these gloves have become a necessity for present-day business owners. But is wearing a vinyl glove a safe way to keep the virus at bay? Are vinyl gloves good at protecting people who wear them?
Do Vinyl Gloves Give a False Sense of Security?
To wear or not to wear gloves? This question has confused many people, especially when it became clear that they could still get infected with the virus even after wearing their gloves in public places. Although having your vinyl gloves sounds like a great idea, they could provide a false sense of security while increasing your chances of contracting SARS-CoV-2.
For instance, say you pop into a food store wearing vinyl gloves. In your shopping spree, you touch different surfaces, and your gloves collect germs from them. You are not worried since the gloves provide protection. You use the credit card to pay and your mobile phone without changing the gloves. In these instances, there are higher chances of spreading the infection.
The World Health Organization (WHO) considers washing hands with soap water for at least 20 seconds as the best defense mechanism against SARS-CoV-2. However, it may not be possible to access water in public places all the time for thorough hand washing. This remains one of the reasons people wear disposable gloves in public places. But gloves will only provide a false sense of security. They provide valuable help and help prevent issues, but it is still necessary to wash your hands to be sure.
There is a high possibility that you will expose yourself to the disease if you touch your face with the gloves on since the virus is known to stick fast to different types of gloves. This explains why you must never use gloves as substitutes for handwashing.
You may wear gloves for added protection but remember to wash your hands at all times.
Most of the Diseases Mainly Spread through Air Droplets – Where do Vinyl Glove Items come in?
It may seem obvious that wearing vinyl glove items helps to protect from this dreaded virus. After all, coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 infection may occur not only via respiratory droplets when you are in close contact with an infected person but also through contaminated surfaces. This honestly compels the need to wear vinyl gloves as a protective mechanism.
If you touch a contaminated surface, the pathogens get into your hands. The simple point here is to ensure to keep your gloves away from your face. Remember to dispose of the vinyl gloves and then wash your hands after using them.
If you do not wash your hands immediately and proceed to touch your face, mouth, nose, and eyes, you will have exposed yourself to the virus.
Vinyl Gloves Should be Used Properly if you Want to Get Optimal Protection
Vinyl gloves provide suitable protection to healthcare providers and other trained professionals like food handlers. These workers receive extensive training on how they should wear and dispose of the gloves safely to prevent infection amongst them and their clients. They are taught the importance of washing or sanitizing their hands before wearing gloves.
There’s a notion that many will not take off their gloves while answering the phone, eating, or drinking. Remember to follow the strict health protocols surrounding the processes of wearing and disposing of vinyl gloves to avoid contamination.
Vinyl Gloves are Permeable to Outside Influences
Although healthcare professionals mainly use disposable gloves, they’ll protect the hands against contaminations like bodily fluids and blood. They also offer short-term protection against viruses and bacteria.
Vinyl gloves have a porous material. They’ll act as great breeding and penetration avenues for viruses if you wear them for long. That is why experts suggest changing them out regularly.
Further, one may not use gloves as substitutes for hand hygiene. Medical personnel and other professionals observe hygiene rules before and after using them to rid them of these pathogens.
Other Aspects to Be Aware Of with Vinyl Gloves
Vinyl gloves, also called PVC gloves, contain a high percentage of chlorine content which has adverse health effects. Remember to dispose of these gloves in the right way to minimize pollution. The more you can work with these gloves in the right way, the better off you are in the long run. It is essential to work with these gloves after reviewing materials and ensuring to use them in the right way to minimize harm to yourself and others.
When to Use Gloves
Vinyl gloves can still be used in several ways. For instance, use them when cleaning or while fumigating your home or office environment. The product used to fumigate comes with a label with instructions that require you to wear gloves, among other instructions. Wash your hands immediately after disposing of the vinyl gloves.
You may also use vinyl gloves when providing care to a sick person. You may wear the vinyl gloves whenever you are cleaning the patient and their aspects like clothes, bedding, etc.
You may also wear gloves whenever you touch body fluids or when you want to get in contact with them. However, always remember to dispose of the gloves immediately after use; never reuse them. Remember to wash your hands thoroughly after use.
Recommendations for Overall Use
Use recommended ways to protect you from COVID 19. The four pillars of COVID 19 protection include;
- Wearing masks
- Washing your hands regularly with soapy water for at least 20 seconds
- Keeping a safe distance of up to 1.5 meters
- Staying at home
Remember that you can wear gloves to protect yourself, but you must wash your hands and avoid touching your face.
Top Multi-Purpose Vinyl Gloves
There are a variety of companies that carry multi-purpose vinyl gloves.
These brands may range from Mckesson to Medpro and other brands that are not as popular but provide equivalent or better protection. You can find the tried and true names, as mentioned above, or you can look to other options that may come at a more feasible price while serving your necessary purposes.
Remember to be more thorough as you conduct your selection process so that you can have an ample supply of these gloves.
As such, you can stay safe, secure, and healthy during various conditions and situations.
Featured photo created by mrsiraphol – www.freepik.com
