Rubber to Vinyl Medical Gloves
Gloves can be very handy for protecting the hands, whether this is from chemicals, irritants or temperature. The rubber glove is the most common of all gloves. Rubber gloves are typically used for the protection of hands when performing tasks involving chemicals. Rubber gloves are also commonly donned whilst washing the cutlery to protect the hands from washing up liquid and to allow the use of hotter water. Rubber gloves that are used for washing plates and cutlery are often yellow, this has led to them being given the nickname of marigolds after the yellow flower. Medical employees often use medical gloves instead of rubber gloves whilst performing surgical operations.
Medical gloves aren’t always made from rubber, although powder free rubber medical gloves are still produced. Many medical employees prefer to use other gloves that have a more comfortable fit and allow more sensitivity as well as providing the level of protection needed. Usually disposable medical gloves come in a number of different materials, such as latex, nitrile and vinyl. These types of medical gloves are frequently used but usually for a number of different reasons.
Latex gloves have always been used by medical employers as they are reliable and strong as well as providing great sensitivity. As well as this latex gloves are easy to put on and remove quickly which is handy in some situations. The one problem with latex gloves is that large numbers of people have developed allergies to latex making it impossible for them to wear them. As a result this has meant the increased usage of other medical gloves.
Nitrile gloves are the usual alternative to latex ones as they provide similar levels of usability and comfort. Nitrile gloves are made from a synthetic polymer and therefore don’t contain any protein, so they are less likely to cause irritation and allergic reactions. Nitrile is a fabric that is can withstand increased levels of pressure and tension and they frequently come in a blue colour. The reason for this is because it makes it easy to find a tear in the glove. The amazing thing about the nitrile gloves material reacts to your body temperature and conforms to the shape of your hand providing a fit like no other.
Vinyl gloves are typically used in exams as they are soft to the touch and very comfortable to wear. They are also resistant to acids, fats and alcohols and have fantastic anti-static properties. Vinyl gloves unfortunatly have a tendency to tear after extensive use and should not be used in high risk situations. Vinyl gloves are made from PVC, yet they don’t contain latex proteins which can cause allergy problems. As well as this it has been shown that using vinyl gloves in a work situation can help reduce conditions such as eczema.
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