Gloves

Our examination gloves consist of a selection of latex, nitrile and vinyl gloves specifically designed for medical examinations and procedures by doctors, dentists, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals. These, in turn, consist of latex-powdered, latex powder-free and nitrile powder-free gloves, which means that there’s a pair of gloves, for literally every pair of hands – regardless of one’s skin type. We take cognizance of the fact that healthcare professionals do come into contact with their patients, and hence design our gloves with the patients’ needs in mind, too.Choose from our massive range of examination, surgical and industrial gloves. Available in sterile and non sterile nitrile, latex, or vinyl.

Disposable Examination Gloves for sale in Ireland

Examination gloves help prevent cross-contamination between patients and their care givers, as well as providing protection against dangerous chemicals and bacteria. For maximum protection, it is important choose the right gloves and use to use them properly.

How do I choose a glove?

When buying disposable gloves, there are many different options available to suit different needs. The level of protection, comfort, durability and more all vary between the types of gloves, which include latex gloves, nitrile gloves and vinyl gloves. With so many choices, the decision can get overwhelming, so let us break it down and get an idea of why there are so many different types, to begin with. Once you understand this, the process of choosing gloves will be much easier.

What are the different Glove Types

Disposable medical examination gloves are usually made from polymers such as latex, vinyl and nitrile, although you may find disposable gloves made of other materials, such as neoprene. Here is a quick comparison of nitrile vs. latex vs. vinyl gloves, including the differences in design and their unique benefits.

Why Choose Latex Examination Gloves

Latex gloves are often preferred by healthcare providers since they provide the best service when it comes to elasticity, comfort and fit. Surgeons benefit from latex gloves since they are great for sensitive work since they offer more precision with high tactile sensitivity.

Despite its advantages, latex gloves have become an issue for many health professionals due to the increasing rate of latex allergies, and many are choosing to go with non-latex glove options such as vinyl and nitrile gloves instead.

Why Choose Vinyl Examination Gloves?

Vinyl gloves, which are made from PVC (polyvinyl chloride), are usually the cheapest latex-free gloves. However, many prefer to use higher-end gloves such as nitrile gloves. Nitrile gloves are often preferred since these non-latex gloves best resemble the stretchy feel of latex gloves and are also highly durable and puncture resistant.

Another difference to consider when deciding between latex and latex-free gloves is the protection offered by each type of material. In general, latex gloves offer the best protection against bacteria and viruses, while synthetic gloves provide better chemical protection. Of the different types of latex-free gloves, nitrile gloves offer a higher degree of protection against viruses, besides the chemical protection they provide.

What Are the Glove Options?

Now that we have a better understanding of the different materials of disposable gloves and their individual advantages, let us explore the more specific options available. Each one of these options is intended to provide specific benefits for different uses. To choose the right glove type for the intended use, it’s important to understand what these advantages are.

Why Choose Powdered Gloves vs. Powder-free Gloves

Powder-free gloves can be more expensive due to the process that needs to be done to remove the powder coating from the glove. However, gloves that are powder-free reduce the cause of allergies by lowering protein and chemical content. In addition, powder-free gloves are ‘cleaner’ to use than powdered gloves, since they do not leave any residue on clothing or other surfaces.

Powdered gloves are usually lubricated with corn starch, which makes them much easier to put on. Corn starch coatings have replaced other powdering options such as lycopodium powder and talc because these other coating types have been found to irritate tissue. Nevertheless, even corn starch can impede healing when encountering tissues, so powder-free gloves are often preferred for surgeries and other sensitive procedures.

Why Choose Examination Gloves vs. Surgical Gloves

Both surgical and examination gloves are medical-grade gloves for use during medical procedures.

Medical examination gloves can be used for patient examinations and blood tests. These gloves are also used as general-purpose gloves for managing incontinence, everyday spills and messes in and around the home.

Surgical gloves are used by surgeons and operating room nurses. These disposable gloves must meet higher quality standards and are usually sterile since they are used for surgical procedures. Surgical gloves offer better fit with more precise sizing, as well as higher tactile sensitivity.

How to Use Gloves Properly

When used and removed properly, disposable gloves offer excellent protection against contamination. Follow the instructions below to get the most out of glove-wearing.

Step 1: Choose

Choose a glove that fits well and is designed for the intended use.

Step 2: Check

Check each glove for rips and punctures.

Step 3: Wash

Gloves should never replace proper handwashing. Always wash and dry hands before putting on a pair of gloves.

Step 4: Wear

Put gloves on. While wearing disposable gloves, do not touch phones, doorknobs, or the like.

Step 5: Remove

Never wash or reuse disposable gloves. In any of the following situations, be sure to remove gloves, wash and dry hands and don a fresh pair of gloves:

• Between patients or tasks
• When gloves become contaminated
• When gloves become dirty
• When gloves get torn
• When gloves have been used for four consecutive hours
• After sneezing, coughing, or touching one’s hair or face

When removing gloves, it is important to follow proper glove removal techniques such as the one shown below to avoid contamination from the outside of the gloves.

Need more help? Whether you are a home user, GP doctor, medical centre, surgery, first responders, fire service, ambulance service, occupational health department or a nursing home, you can give our team a call on 01 5079901 or email sales@hayesfirstaid.com to discuss your needs and get a quote. Irish owned and based, shipping nationwide throughout Ireland.