When it comes to infection control in Australia, wearing gloves is one of the easiest ways to prevent and reduce the transmission of pathogens. It is a vital type of personal protective equipment that is used by many professionals, especially in a highly contagious, hazardous environment.
Be it in a hospital, food industry, or child care facility, disposable gloves are necessary for maintaining health and safety for both customers and employees.
With that, choosing the right disposable gloves is essential. But how do you choose the right one? Why is it encouraged to use gloves in childcare settings?
Let’s check to find out.
Why Do We Use Gloves in Childcare?
Children are the best spreader of germs. With their restless and young behavior, the little ones are uncontrollable when it comes to hygiene. Therefore, it is crucial to be aware of how to protect yourself and the children from getting ill or injured.
We use disposable gloves in childcare for the following reasons:
To Reduce Transmission, Contamination, and Spread of Potential Diseases
Child care services involve taking care of infants, toddlers, and young children who are frequently in contact with each other. This can lead to an increase in illnesses.
Disposable gloves for childcare providers provide important barrier protection against body fluids and other various contaminants, such as saliva, urine, or stool.
The correct use of gloves in childcare is vital for maintaining health and hygiene. Choosing the right glove size for a good fit helps you to handle your tasks with ease and comfort.
To Eliminate Dry and Irritated Hands From Repetitive Washing
Repetitive washing may cause allergies and irritations for some people. It also may lead to changes in skin texture, such as dryness of the skin and allergic contact dermatitis. The use of gloves will prevent these allergies and irritations.
To Protect from Chemical Spills or Exposure During Cleaning
Operating a child care facility means that consistent cleaning and disinfecting must take place. Many cleaning agents with strong chemicals may cause irritations not only to the skin but also to the eyes and throats. They may also lead to headaches and other health problems. This is why using protective personal equipment (PPE) like masks, gloves and gowns is important.
To Prevent Contamination During Food Preparation
Food handlers must take precautions when preparing food for your children or your employees. Gloves will be in contact with food, so they must be food-safe, food-grade, and well-designed to avoid contaminating the food. For this reason, purchasing eco-friendly, natural and food-grade, black disposable gloves is significant to protect from foodborne illnesses.
What Infection Control Measures Do You Perform to Reduce Risks in Childcare?
Apart from using disposable gloves to take care of children or promoting the safe use of electrical equipment in childcare, there are several measures to promote infection control in childcare facilities.
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Hand Washing and Appropriate Use of PPE
Hand washing is one of the most effective methods of reducing the spread of infection. All individuals inside the facility must wash their hands before eating or handling food, or after any activity like playing with the children or assisting children to the toilet. Likewise, wear the right protective clothing if you are handling waste disposal.
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Hygiene, Sanitation, and Cleaning Practices
Because you are dealing with the health and safety of the staff, families, and children, good sanitation and cleaning practices must be done appropriately.
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Proper Food Handling Preparation Procedure
Food is being served daily in childcare facilities. Foodborne diseases like diarrhea can quickly spread to other people if proper food handling procedure is not followed or maintained.
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Providing Accessible Areas for Washing, Cleaning, and Disposal of Waste
One of the things to pay attention to is how to properly handle waste disposal of soiled diapers, tissues, or cotton. Hence, a childcare facility must provide easy access to washing areas with running water, soap and other cleaning products to prevent contamination.
Diaper changing can happen 8 to 10 times a day for each toddler so it’s normal to also put on new gloves several times. Soiled gloves can become a problem when dealing with waste gloves thrown into a landfill. Thus, it’s important to help preserve the environment by buying only compostable disposable gloves.
Bonnie Bio – Sustainable Compostable Packaging in Australia
If you are looking for quality and yet environment-friendly disposable gloves in Australia, choose Bonnie Bio. Our compostable disposable gloves are made of materials that break down into natural and non-toxic elements, making them environmentally friendly.
Bonnie Bio’s compostable gloves and other materials help make our world a safer and healthier place, keeping all environments, including childcare facilities, clean, safe, happy, and protected.
Contact us today for more information.