False security
The rules regarding personal protective equipment for average citizens have moved quite a lot since the beginning of the COVID19 pandemic. Most notably, people were told initially that masks were unnecessary; now, in Pennsylvania, most stores won’t let you in without one. And public health officials are now calling into question the efficacy of another piece of protection — disposable gloves.
For people making essential trips out to the grocery store or pharmacy, disposable gloves may seem like a sensible protection option. But, according to the Cleveland Clinic, too many people are using gloves incorrectly .“We’ re seeing a lot of people out in public wearing gloves, which isn’t wrong so to say,” said Cleveland Clinic infectious disease specialist Dr. Patricia Dandache in a news release. “But unfortunately most people aren’t wearing or disposing of their gloves correctly, which defeats the whole purpose.”
The potential problems with gloves are myriad. They are more susceptible to small tears that can go unnoticed by the glove wearer. There are precise procedures for putting gloves on and taking them off without exposing yourself or others to potential contaminants. And, most dangerous, gloves often give people a false sense of security — they do not give carte blanche to touch anything you want, including items in a store, other people or your own face. Such actions are common among people not trained in the use of PPE and actually can increase potential exposure to the virus.
There are simple measures one can take to keep safe before and after an essential shopping trip: apply hand sanitizer before heading inside, practice social distancing, don’t touch your phone and wash your hands thoroughly after returning home. For most people, this should be adequate precaution.
Wearing gloves is still an option, but people must make sure they know how to wear and use gloves correctly to avoid practices that could endanger themselves or others. Personal protective equipment is only effective if proper protective measures are followed. Do not be lulled into a false sense of security.