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The Covid-19 pandemic has altered the way people go about a lot of things. How we do our shopping for food and basic day to day essentials is one of them.
As per the World Health Organization (WHO and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Covid-19 is a highly infectious disease that spreads through respiratory droplets and physical contact.
To help curb the spread of the coronavirus, the WHO and the CDC, as well as government bodies involved with public health in countries around the world, are compelling people to take certain precautionary measures. Some of these measures include social distancing and the wearing of face masks while in public to minimize the risk of spreading the virus.
Coming into contact with an infected surface or shaking the hands of a carrier can get you infected with the virus. As such, people are also urged to maintain good hand hygiene by cleaning their hands frequently during the day using either hand sanitizer or soap and water; whichever one is convenient.
A lot of people are also concerned about whether gloves can be considered as viable personal protective equipment (PPE). The truth is gloves do a great job in protecting our hands from contamination and infection. This is especially true for people who work in the health provision field.
Protective gloves are an essential tool because they help the spread of healthcare-associated infections (HAI). Doctors and nurses, especially those taking care of people infected with the coronavirus, need gloves to protect themselves and patients against transmitting coronavirus-causing pathogens.
At present, the market has a variety of brands selling different kinds of brands. Without the right guidance, it’s easy for anyone to make a misinformed buy. To help you out, we’ve broken down the different types and brands of gloves you’re bound to come across as you go about your shopping.
Table of Contents
What Are the Various Types of Disposable Gloves Available
Disposable gloves are categorized according to the different primary materials used during their manufacture. Here are some of the types of gloves you’ll find in the market.
Nitrile Gloves
Nitrile gloves have overtaken latex gloves as the most popular type of gloves today. They are known to offer the most protection as compared to all other kinds of gloves. They are also very strong meaning they don’t tear or break easily. They are also highly durable and if stored well, can have a shelf life of over 5 years.
Another upside to these gloves is that they come in a variety of colors. This color variety offers certain advantages such as workers are able to distinguish amongst themselves and people working in dimly-lit conditions can see their hands easily.
Perhaps the most significant aspect that makes nitrile gloves highly favorable is that they are 100% latex-free. This means they’re not able to cause skin reactions to people who’re allergic to latex.
Vinyl Gloves
Vinyl gloves are made from a synthetic plastic polymer. They are very affordable but their low prices compromise their strength and resistance. As such, they are extremely ideal for non-hazardous work when a latex-free alternative is needed.
Polythene Gloves
Polythene gloves are used for extremely light work. They are specifically designed to offer a loose fit which allows good aeration flow, allowing the hands good breathing room. They are also very cheap and are convenient for basic activities such as grocery shopping.
Latex Gloves
Latex gloves have been the longest in history. They offer great flexibility in hand movement and are both fitting and comfortable when worn. However, some people are allergic to latex so this is something you should consider before wearing a pair of latex gloves.
Top Brands of Gloves You Should Consider
Microflex Nitrile Gloves
Microflex Ultralform nitrile gloves are designed with ergonomic design technology to provide maximum protection to your hands. One dispenser box goes for about $83 and contains 300 gloves.
The nitrile gloves are medical grade, meaning they can be used by healthcare professionals when treating patients. Their thin design makes it easy for the wearer to handle delicate equipment such as glassware with a firm grip.
Dr. Oh Nitrile Gloves
This brand of gloves are lightweight and provide exceptional comfort and flexibility. They are specifically made for use with added PPE as instructed by public health agencies against infectious disease prevention and control.
Dr. Oh nitrile gloves are textured around the fingers to provide a good grip even when the glove or surface of the object is damp or wet. They come in medium, large, and extra-large sizes and a box of 100 pieces should set you back no more than $20.
Medicom SafeTouch MicroDefense Gloves
These gloves are rather unique in the market because they have antimicrobial technology that eliminates up to 99.99% of germs and bacteria within 5 minutes of contact. They are also skin-safe and as such, cannot cause a skin reaction on the wearer.
It’s important to note that as a company, Medicom has a wide variety of vinyl, nitrile, and latex gloves designed to serve different functions. However, the gloves are only available for sale in Canada.
Maxill Neoprene EKB Green Gloves
This brand of gloves offers incredible tactility and fits well on the wearer. They are also disposable and powder-free which means they don’t pose any risks to people who might be allergic to cornstarch powder. However, this means they might be a bit hard to wear.
Venom Steel Nitrile Gloves
If you’re looking for heavy-duty gloves, then the venom steel nitrile gloves are exactly what you need. They are strong and extremely thick which works well to protect the hands of the wearer. They are ideal for any worker involved whose work would have them getting their hands dirty.
Choosing the Right Glove Brand To Prevent the Spread of Coronavirus-Causing Pathogens
Without the proper protective measures in place, germs and bacteria can spread easily and quickly, especially in health care facilities. Most of these germs are spread through contact. When you wear your gloves, you will have protected yourself from the possible infection and spread of Covid-19.
It’s important that you understand the different kinds of gloves available that will best protect you from the coronavirus before making a final buying decision.
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