Gloves

Gloves
CHOOSING Gloves are a medical device and should be treated as such:
• Choose the right size to ensure a good fit in order to avoid friction, excessive sweating,
finger and hand muscle fatigue and interference with dexterity.
• Check the expiry date of the gloves you use – never use gloves that are out of date
(glove material can deteriorate over time and an out of date glove might not perform
as well).
• Never use disposable latex gloves containing powder (due to the risks associated with
aerosolisation and latex allergies).
USING
• Gloves should be donned before commencing a procedure where you might come into
contact with blood/body fluids/chemicals/therapeutic creams/lotions and as required for
the preparation of medications.
• Gloves should be changed if they become punctured, damaged or torn, or if damage to
the glove is suspected.
• Two pairs of gloves should be worn (double gloving) during some exposure prone procedures
(EPPs), e.g. orthopaedic and gynaecological procedures.
• Gloves should be removed promptly after use (as soon as the procedure is complete)
before touching non-contaminated/clean areas/items, environmental surfaces or other
persons (including yourself), with hands washed immediately afterwards.
• Gloves being worn for a procedure/activity should not be worn to handle or write on
charts, or to touch any other communal, clean surfaces.
• Gloves should not be decanted from the original box to ensure the expiry date is known
and the integrity maintained.
• Gloves should never be washed or have alcohol handrub applied to them. Instead, 
should be removed, hands cleansed and a new pair of gloves donned, if required.
• Wearing gloves does not mean that hands do not need to be washed – hands should be
washed before donning gloves and after removing them.
• Jewellery should not be worn under gloves. Plain metal bands are generally tolerated
but stoned rings may tear the glove material and should not be worn during clinical
activity.
REMOVI N G Care should be taken when removing used gloves to avoid contamination.
Holding the wrist end of the glove, pull it down over itself so that it goes inside out as you
pull it down your hand. Hold the removed glove in the hand that pulled it down. Now using
the ungloved hand, slowly pull the other glove down, inside out, in the same way, over the
fingers and the first glove and dispose of them into the clinical waste as a wrapped
package.
• Gloves should be changed between patients and between procedures on the same
patient to prevent cross-contamination.
• Torn, punctured or otherwise damaged gloves should not be used and should be
removed immediately (safety permitting) if this occurs during a procedure