People who work in the health sector routinely wear sterile gloves and must know how to wear them properly. Putting on gloves properly can prevent the transmission and spread of infectious diseases, both to patients and medical staff. Putting on sterile gloves is very easy. Just make sure your hands are clean, then put them in the gloves.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Making Sure Your Hands Are Clean
Step 1. Choose a glove with the right size for you
Sterile gloves are sold in various sizes. The size may be different for each brand. Try several pairs of sterile gloves until you find the one that fits best. Once you find it, you should throw away the used gloves and put on new, sterile gloves. Use the following guidelines to determine the right glove size:
- You can move your hands comfortably
- No friction on the skin
- Hands only sweat a little or no sweat at all
- Hand muscles only feel a little tired or don't feel tired at all
Step 2. Remove the jewelry
Even if it's not mandatory, consider removing any rings, bracelets, or other jewelry on your hands. Jewelry can contaminate gloves or make them difficult to put on and cause discomfort. Removing jewelry can also minimize the risk of tearing the gloves.
Wear jewelry in a safe, easy-to-find area after you remove your gloves
Step 3. Wash your hands thoroughly
Before touching gloves or putting on sterile gloves, wash your hands first. Wet hands with soap and water. Rub both hands under running water for at least 20 seconds. Rinse your hands up to the wrists thoroughly, then dry them.
- Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not nearby.
- Some sterile procedures require different types of soap and scrubbing techniques.
Step 4. Position your hands higher than your waist
After thoroughly cleaning your hands, do not lower them past your waist. Hold hands high to reduce risk of contamination. If your hands are lower than your waist, repeat the process of washing your hands before putting on gloves.
Standing can keep your arms higher than your waist
Method 2 of 2: Wearing Gloves
Step 1. Unpack the sterile gloves
Check the packaging to make sure there are no torn, discolored, or wet parts. Discard gloves whose packaging has been damaged. Not the outer cover of the packaging. Make sure you open it from the top, bottom, then side. Remember, you only have a margin of 2.5 cm that is allowed to be touched. This allows you to remove the sterile packaging containing the gloves on the inside.
Remember, sterile gloves have an expiration date on the packaging. Before putting on, make sure the gloves haven't expired
Step 2. Remove the package inside the package
Remove the package inside the package and place it on a clean surface. Make sure you can see both gloves inside to make sure they are opened properly.
Step 3. Take the glove for your dominant hand
Use your non-dominant hand to pick up the glove you will wear on your dominant hand. Touch the inside of the wrist of the glove (the side that will touch the skin). Putting on the glove for the dominant hand first can minimize the risk of damage or contamination of the hand that you use frequently.
Step 4. Insert dominant hand into glove
Let the gloves hang with your fingers pointing down. Make sure the hands are not below the waist and higher than the chest to ensure they remain sterile. After that, insert your dominant hand into the glove with your palm facing up and your fingers stretched.
- Remember, you should only touch the inside of the glove to prevent potential contamination.
- Make adjustments once the other gloves have been put on.
Step 5. Put on the second glove
Insert the fingers of the gloved hand into the inner crease of the second glove, then lift it. Keep your second hand straight with your palm facing up, then insert your fingers into the glove. After that, pull the second glove so that it covers your hand.
Hold the position of the hand that has been tucked into the glove so that it does not touch the palm or wrist directly
Step 6. Adjust the glove position
Once both gloves are on, you can adjust their position. Reach under the crease on each glove to pull it up or make adjustments as needed. Do not touch the area between the skin and the crease. Tidy up the position of both gloves. The object should feel snug without impeding air circulation and making hands feel uncomfortable.
Step 7. Check the gloves to make sure there are no tears
Observe both gloves carefully. If there are rips, holes, or other damage, wash your hands again and put on new gloves.
Warning
- If you accidentally touch your skin or other object while wearing gloves, the object is contaminated.
- If gloves become contaminated, re-wash your hands before putting on new sterile gloves.
- Learning how to put on sterile gloves is not easy and can be frustrating at times. Practice a few times before you perform a medical procedure that requires you to wear sterile gloves.
- The above procedure is referred to as the “open glove technique” which is intended for use without a surgical gown. If you are wearing a robe (such as in an operating room), you should not use this technique, but rather use the “covered glove” technique which is usually required by regulations in most medical institutions.
