Latex gloves are generally used in hospitals and food industry to maintain proper hygiene. Latex Gloves are widely used by the chemists to protect their hands from malevolent chemicals that can harm and injure the skin. The necessity of its invention had been caused by one such incident in John Hopkins University in 1890, when William Stewart Halsted was considering carbolic acid in order to sterilize his as well as his nurse’s hand, but the acid was affecting the skin of the nurse badly, so he ordered ‘Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company’ to engineer a rubber glove which will be resistant to the harmful effects of the acid. Cornstarch or talc were used to lubricate these gloves, to make them easier to put on or take off, but research showed that these elements can prove to be dangerous to tissues and stall the healing process, hence the lubrication of the gloves had been banned.
Nowadays, some other materials like vinyl or neoprene are also being used as an alternative to latex for manufacturing gloves, as there are reported cases of latex allergy. However, the popularity of the latex gloves have not diminished, as the greater touch sensitivity, yielded by the latex gloves remains unmatched by gloves made from some other materials. The type and size of these gloves depend upon the work for which they are being utilized.
There are different kinds of gloves that cover up the hand till the elbow and there are also shorter types that cover palm and the wrist. The shorter ones are used in the medical setting and in the domestic scenario. The longer ones are used for handling hazardous stuffs like while spraying pesticide and handling other malevolent chemicals that might cause skin irritation and skin damage. These are generally made of thicker variety of latex to ensure protection from harmful, toxic substances. Latex gloves have come as a major blessing for those who work in various industries and are exposed to the risk of handling various hazardous materials, enabling them to avail effective protection against various kinds of health risks.
When you need to select the different kinds of latex gloves, you would get myriad of options. There are powered and Powder Free Latex Gloves. All types of latex gloves provide an added gripping to the situation but it is the powdered ones that are easier to put on and remove.
Latex gloves are available in varying sizes – from small, large to extra-large. For best application, use a glove that fits the correct size of your hand and provides a comfortable fit. You also need to check whether the gloves hold tight onto your skin, as this will reduce the chance of damage to the glove and will lessen the chances of spreading contamination.
Loren Wall is a freelancer who writes various blogs and articles on protection and safety equipments. Being a specialist in this field, she offers varying information on the benefits latex gloves, masks, helmets to ensure personal safety and protection.