Why should you prepare gloves for emergencies?
Gloves can protect you from danger in an emergency.
Are we talking about the rubber gloves in the hospital?? or from the kitchen??
I have ski gloves!!
Is it OK to use gardening gloves??
Many people will pray for swift recovery and reconstruction in the aftermath of a disaster.
Do you expect to just sit and wait for somebody to help you in the midst of disaster??
After a major fire or earthquake, once you and your loved ones are safe, I expect you will check your home and your neighborhood. As you walk around your neighborhood, you will have to be careful not to trip over debris and broken glass. Now, imagine you lose your footing, and have to catch yourself. If you reflexively grab onto twisted metal, splintered wood, or a pointy nail, you could easily injure yourself.
Here’s another scenario. You evacuate from your home because of flooding, and you find yourself in an evacuation shelter. On top of that, there is a wide area blackout. There you are, walking around outside, in a dark and unfamiliar environment. After a major disaster, you need to expect the unexpected.
Be ready for abnormal situations. You might have to remove debris just to walk down the street. You might need to dig ditches and pile sandbags during hurricanes and floods. You never know what you might face.
In these situations, disposable medical gloves will not be much better than bare hands.
I don’t recommend them for emergencies.
Gloves are going to be a protective barrier for your hands. They can help prevent direct contact with harmful substances, hazardous waste, toxic materials, and various contaminants.
In the middle of a major disaster, you will be glad to have gloves. You don’t want to attempt major cleanup or repairs, barehanded. If you’re in a position to help yourself, and you’re not going to wait around for government assistance, one of the first things you’ll want to do is clean up. You will work to get yourself back to a normal life, to the extent possible, as quickly as you can. This is where gloves are essential.
Need to know
You can find many different kinds of gloves in stores. First, you need to know some of the important features.
1. Cut resistance
Gloves with this feature protect against cuts, tears, punctures and impact injuries.
2. Water resistance
Protection from wet conditions (dirt, grease, oil, chemicals, bio-hazards, etc.).
3. Heat resistance
Protection from thermal injuries (fire and hot surfaces).
4. Abrasion resistance
These gloves provide protection against repetitive friction from various materials. Gloves with abrasion resistance can withstand rubbing and scraping against rough or hard surfaces, like ropes, cables, and concrete.
5. Grip
These gloves will often have a latex or nitrile coating to improve gription. These can help if you have to lift heavy things, especially when slippage could lead to injury.
EN 388
Look for this mark on gloves.
EN 388 is a safety standard followed in Europe for work gloves. Check out this web site for more info about EN 388: West Chester Protective Gear !!
Once you know something about the different gloves out there, it’s easy to get carried away,
especially if you’re worried about safety. You’ll never find gloves that are perfect for every situation.
Remember, any gloves are better than bare hands in an emergency.
Without gloves, you’ll be up a creek without a paddle.
There’s still lots to explore on this topic. Please tune in next time for more about gloves.
See you next time.
Remember, “Protect your life by yourself” （自分の命は自分で守る). You need to survive first, and then you need your emergency supply. No matter how well you prepared your emergency supplies, if you die, then all of your preparations will have been for nothing. First and foremost, keep your health up all the time. Build your stamina so that if you need to, you can evacuate as quickly as possible. Stay healthy.