Tip #287 Frugal Fixes: Glorious Gloves

     Okay, so I know they don't look so glorious, but for you diva's out there at least they are pink!   Why such a long glove (or any at all), and why do they look suspiciously like veterinary gloves? Well, lets look at the latter first. Yes, they are indeed veterinary gloves. But, you don't need to be a vet to use them, and you don't need to have a cow to want to use them, and you don't need any special designation or title in order to buy them. Nope.Not at all. But, they are still very handy (sorry about the pun, I couldn't contain myself!).  So, why are they of interest here? Well, it's hard to get anything more perfect to cover wounds so you can bathe without getting said wounds wet.

     After many types of surgery, you are not allowed to get your wound wet for quite some time. Ergo, you can't have a proper shower. The same is true when you have a central line of any kind (much like having an IV but it's a direct link to your heart and thus it can be especially dangerous to get those kinds of wounds wet). Over the years I myself, and many others I know have worked at finding quickly applied, easy to use, and effective protection from infection in order to shower worry-free. We've been very creative, and we've tried various types of saran and Ziploc/glad bags, cut, not cut, various tapes, dressings, part of a rain coat, and the list just starts to get more unusual from there. 

     BUT, as it turns out, vet gloves are a happy solution for many wound-protecting situations. They are great. What was our criteria? 

Quick to apply. Check. 

Easy to use. Check. Put them on, and seal the end with waterproof tape.

Effective protection. Check.

And a criteria not yet listed: cheap. That's the biggest check; a very frugal fix!!

     Back to the waterproof tape - that's an important step. You can use water resistant tapes too. They are cheaper, and either kind is readily available at most local pharmacies. A roll is usually less than three dollars and will last you a long time, since the gloves don't require much to seal them. 

 Side note: No matter what protection you use, it will get sweaty under the dressing, and that is icky and itchy. Suggestions?  If you are careful, you can easily cut holes in the fingers of your gloves before you put them on, but then you must keep your hand down (in the shower) or up (in the bathtub) so you don't compromise the effectiveness. At least that way you still have SOME protection, but be VERY careful if you do so. Plan B? Take cooler and shorter baths/showers, and remove the glove ASAP.

     Ahhhh, glorious gloves. At least for us, when we don't need them anymore, we can use them in the barn!  Well, it's crazy, but it works; you'd be surprized at how many items from the farming world carry over to the human health realm.... but that's another story. 

     An added bonus? There isn't as much tape to re-moo-ve because of the way the gloves fit ;P! And, if you're careful you can reuse the gloves, but I suggest you don't. I'm frugal, but I like to ensure that I am safe too!! And they are cheap enough in most places (30 cents is common) that you won't feel too guilty about letting them go once used. Have fun!

Happy singing in the shower!