Owwie! (Little gross)

[Seshat]

That's why I use 'spray bandaid' these days. (medical grade superglue)

[trailerparkmedic]

have never had a reaction at the hospital to gloves (do they still use latex gloves at hospitals?)

Generally, no. Unless you're at the ghetto hospital I'm at this semester (so called not because it's in the ghetto but because it's terribly run), which refuses to supply latex free sterile gloves and only mostly has latex free regular gloves. My preceptor is allergic to latex and keeps extra boxes of regular gloves in her locker because she's just too fed up to fight the OSHA violation it is. It works for me since now I HAVE to do all sterile procedures that don't involve little kits with prepackaged non latex gloves.

Easy way to tell--most non latex gloves are bright colors, like blue or purple. Most, not all.

[Seshat]

Two by two, hands of blue.

[Sparky]

Two by two, hands of blue.

Okay, now I'm scared.

[Sapphire Silk]

Panacea, what do you mean the adhesive "goes bad"? Do you mean it no longer sticks?
Curious.

Yes. Although some adhesives can cause allergic reactions, that is a separate issue from a latex allergy. The glue gets old, and the wax paper sticks to the bandaid, making it hard to pull the paper off, and then the band aid doesn't stick very well.

Also, the paper wrapping degrades and bacteria can get it. This also happens if they get wet.

Generally, no. Unless you're at the ghetto hospital I'm at this semester (so called not because it's in the ghetto but because it's terribly run), which refuses to supply latex free sterile gloves and only mostly has latex free regular gloves. My preceptor is allergic to latex and keeps extra boxes of regular gloves in her locker because she's just too fed up to fight the OSHA violation it is. It works for me since now I HAVE to do all sterile procedures that don't involve little kits with prepackaged non latex gloves.

Easy way to tell--most non latex gloves are bright colors, like blue or purple. Most, not all.

That hospital is taking a big big chance. If I had a latex allergy, I would not be sitting still for it. I'd be calling OSHA and JCAHO.

Consider this: if a patient is latex sensitive, the provider must use latex free gloves when caring for the patient. If the procedure must be sterile, then latex free sterile gloves must be used.

Because of this, most hospitals have abandoned latex gloves all together and moved to nitrile gloves. Though they are more expensive, it is worth the cost to avoid the inevitable lawsuit that is headed that hospital's way.

[SuperDan]

(800)321-OSHA. They can help your coworker figure out if it is in violation, what it is in violation of, and how to proceed. Please note that some states have their own OSHA equivalent, so if your state does, OSHA will probably refer you to your state agency. The state agencies can deal with both state and federal violations.