Are people just keeling over from latex allergies or what?

[SilverCity4]

Hey gang, help me out here.

I've been appointed the medical officer for my VFD, as we're in the process of implementing a First Responder program. Only a couple of the people on the department have any EMS experience--the other 17 don't (in fact, 10 of them are just finishing up First Responder class).

It may just be conincidence, or the First Responder instructor may have made some kind of comment in class, but a couple of the people in the First Responder class have raised a concern about using latex-free gloves, as some people (as in patients, not my personnel) are allergic to latex.

Now, I didn't just fall off the turnip truck. Unless things have changed a lot in the last couple of years, I thought only 1-3% percent of the population is allergic to latex.

Is it really such a critical issue that everything needs to be latex-free? If someone could point me to a source of info to prove or disprove my thoughts that is isn't a big deal, I'd appreciate it.

As always, opinions welcome!

[IAMedic]

This is my own person opinion, so bear that in mind.

Latex allergies are becoming more common in my area. People are not "keeling over", but they do have irritations and rashes do form. My service has went to all Nitrile gloves and have eliminated the Latex gloves through attrition. This is the only thing we consciously focus on being non-latex. Everything else is whatever is better and cheaper. Nitrile and other synthetics are going to be more expensive than latex, but was is a couple dollars here and there. A couple of our members have Latex Allergies, so we are a little more 'sensitive' to the subject.

So, on my squad, it is a big deal. Good Luck and let us know what you decide.

[btroutm]

Here we try to carry both latex and vinyl (non-latex) gloves. I prefer latex so I usually wear them, but if the patient tells me they have allergies to latex, then I switch gloves. I always keep both kinds on the back of the cot. If you do decide to go with latex, it would be a good idea to throw a couple of extra pairs of non-latex gloves in your jump bags.

Take care.
BRT

[WTFD10]

Personally, I prefer to use the Safeskin purple nitrile gloves over latex. They fit better and seem to resist ripping and tearing better than latex gloves.

[RyanEMVFD]

I'm the opposite. I hate the barney gloves, they seem to rip easier for me then the latex usually does. We do have one person on the dept that has latex allergy and we try to accomidate (sp).

[ffemt1361]

Back in Sept I found out that I was sensitive to latex. I cant use latex gloves unless I wash my hands immediatly after using them. I ended up with really bad dermatitis on both hands. I now use the purple nitrile gloves. Sometimes after using the latex gloves and washing my hands they will break out. I still have the steroid cream that my dr gave me. I have a friend that is severly allergic to latex that she cant even use a condom. Most medical products now are latex free due to the allergy factor. I use to work in trauma center and I cant recall any products being latex except for gloves. Take care and stay safe.

[Weruj1]

we use latex free gloves just to avoid the whole problem ,,,,,,also try and get lateex free NRM,s and nasal canulas also

[DaSharkie]

Latex sensitivity is the up and coming thing. If you think about it, even nurses adn other heatlth care providers - EMS included - only started wearing latex gloves about 10 - 15 years ago. Since the vast majority of latex allergies occur on an advanding level it has taken all these years to grow into such a major problem.

Most sensitivities are on an increasing level. You first get skin itches, then irritations, then dermatitis, then it just continues to progress.

All airway products, I believe by law, must be latex free to prevent anaphalaxis. I believe the same is true for IV tubing and syringes.
Latex tourniquets are getting harder and harder to find as well

Personally I also prefer the Barney gloves. I do not wear latex becasuse of the increasing dermatitis that I get from wearing them so I figured that I'd nip it in the bud and just not wear latex. I do find them stronger, less likely to rip, easier to write on (I put all of my pt's pertinent info on my glove), and more comfortable.

Another factor to consider is this, just because you have switched to latex golves because your patient has said that they are allergic does not aleviate the problem. The latex particles from years of past use are all over the patient compartment and equipment. In addition if you have just taken the gloves off you have created a cloud of latex particles around you that will settle in the truck and on your uniform.

If you look at it from a legal aspect, you know some lamebrained moron is going to sue down the road becaus they developed a latex allergy and you caused it and they almost died from a latex exposure. It can reduce the costs of insurance adn your own liability.

As a final note on latex, I do believe that the sweat produced by you can breask dwon the latex because of the oils in it. This could be an old wives tale but hey, one more reason to not worry about it.

[Engine5FF]

Our local EMS instructor (a trauma RN) has a severe latex allergy. She breaks out in hives with slight contact (getting pulse taken) and she says sex with a condom would kill her. I guess the reason it is so serious is that some people don't even know about the allergy until it is too late and the reaction makes whatever they are being treated for worse. Beter safe than sorry. While my ambulance corps uses latex free, my fire dept. does not. Someday we might get it uniform but not right now.

[SilverCity4]

Good points, by all.

I like things in black and white...unfortunately, the world is made up in shades of grey.

So...I'm thinking it should either be an issue or it shouldn't be an issue.

Why carry non-latex gloves (in case you run across someone who has a latex allergy) and then carry other supplies (oxygen masks, for example) that contain latex?

How can you effectively treat a patient with a latex allergy without going totally non-latex?

Understand that I'm not disagreeing with the concept of carrying non-latex gloves "just in case", but if it's an issue, it's an issue.

Know what I mean, Vern?

[Weruj1]

this is Vern ...........over ,............. and like I said we try to buy everything we can latex free .......some vendors off latex free kits but they are ASTRONOMICALLY expensive ........we have yet to have a run a latex allergy person but did have one person in our town stop at the station to tell us she was allergic in case we did run on her.

[btroutm]

Originally posted by Weruj1
...but we did have one person in our town stop at the station to tell us she was allergic in case we did run on her. Isn't it nice when people think about things like this? I've had some patients that were allergic to latex, so they carried their own non-latex gloves with them (all sizes too :D ). Unfortunately, many others don't bother mentioning an allergy to latex until you're pulling into the ER.

On another note...I will admit that I have never heard of "nitrile" gloves. Are those the green/purple ones? I've seen them occasionally but we aren't stocked with them. For us, non-latex means vinyl, and I can't stand vinyl gloves. They just don't fit right.

[GFREMT]

Hi everyone
I just wanted to post to this thread, to bring up a unique situation that some people may not consider.
My wife is 'allergic" to some non -latex gloves, but can use or have contact with latex gloves/products without any reaction.
She is sensitive to certain chemicals that are present in many of the
non -latex gloves. She has a chemicls sensitivity to formaldehide and many products produced by chemicals contain fomaldehide. Nitrile gloves are produced from chemicals and she has had a reaction from contact with these type of gloves.

She can use the latex gloves because they are made from a "natural" product latex rubber.

I definately understand the desire to eliminate latex from the health care workers perspective, long term use can result in develepoment of a latex allergy. But we should be aware that some people may also have a reaction to our non-latex products also.

[ALS142]

Per the CDC guidelines, the personnel in my department only wear disposable gloves "when there is a reasonable expectation of contact with a body fluid". What that means is that we don't glove up for every call. We glove up when it's necessary, not "just because". In the past five years, we have not had a single incident of personnel developing a latex allergy. And if you think gloves are the only problem, think again. ET tubes and IV catheters are also made of latex. Protecting yourself is one thing, dying for the job is not.

[Weruj1]

well I certainly cant and wont micro manage my EMS units .......I am can only plan for the majority of the sick and injured ........ pretty soon we will probably need to have non-anything that streches allergies proof things ............you can only do so much!

[pumper41]

By my career and vollie stations use nitrile gloves, although I've never meet a patient who has informed me of a latex allergy:)

[Kiernan]

At my station we have both latex and latex-free gloves. I personally use the latex-free. They seem to fit better and...I have an allergy to latex!

[CollegeBuff]

The State of RI has banned the use of latex in ambulances. No need to worry about who's allergic and who isn't.

[ALSfirefighter]

We carry "latex free kits" and we have a few guys who where the nitrile gloves out of both sensitivity and preference. Silver your not nuts, and as far as I know the stats haven't changed. You will run into a few persons that have a true latex allergy, then there are the majority, including us that develop a "sensitivity." I thought I was becoming sensitive to latex until I learned that it was the powder from the powdered gloves. Now they are fairly hard to find unless they are nickel and diming. So for me its diamond grips, they are my favorite glove. I have yet to have one just rip on me for a non mechanical reason, and I never have like the feel of the nitrile, especially when they get wet or bloodied.
If you check with the company(ies) you order your supplies with, many have economical latex free kits that are fairly compact. However, check them out, with many kits I see agencies ordering they could save a bunch if they put them together themselves for what they get charged.

[RoryEl]

I occasionally see people with latex allergies/sensitivity, but it is a routine question in my patient assessment. This subgroup of patients should be treated appropriately with latex-free supplies. It is common for people with recurrent exposures (healthcare workers)to develop sensitivity and the reaction ranges from rashes to anaphylaxis. Apparently, the latex particles in the dust from powders gloves aides the spread latex over all the surfaces where powdered gloves are used so one must be careful when treating a latex sensitive patient. First, Do no harm.

[Paramouse]

I have been in EMS for 25 years, never had a problem with latex until I had an appendectomy in August:( . By Christmas, I had a constant case of dermatitis and by January I was getting swelling around my eyes. When I talked to my PMD, he told me that several of his patients with EMS(he used to be local ER doc and a lot of us go to him)developed allergies after surgury or an illness. I cannot wear latex for more than a few minutes. My service will give non-latex gloves to those allergic after they bring a letter from their doc and go see the Fire surgeon. No provisions about the pts. that may be allergic. However, the sterile gloves are still all latex and I have to use them over the vinyl gloves, if I am doing a baby delivery or accessing a port, not a great tactile experience :rolleyes:. I still tend to reach toward the "normal" glove box, and have to make sure I have non-latex for the classes I teach.

[EMTfarmer]

There are non-latex sterile gloves available. We have some. We have been using non-latex gloves for at least 5 years or more and switch to non-latex supplies at every opportunity. I'm amazed at the number of posters who still use latex gloves. Part of the impetus for us to switch to non-latex is that an ER nurse at our hospital has a severe latex allergy. In our small hospital she is also an OB, CCU, ICU nurse, you get the picture:) .

[SilverCity4]

After asking a few more questions of the local ambulance director, my guys have determinined that "a lot" of people out here have latex allergies. That's die-hard proof, eh?

Anyway, there is certainly no harm in using latex-free gloves, so I'm going to pay the couple of bucks more a box for the nitrile gloves. It seems like some of my people think it's an issue, and I'm trying to keep 'em happy (within reason!).

As for the rest of our supplies, my plan is to stock a 'latex free' kit for the people we may run on prior to the ambulance's arrival. The normal stock will be whatever's more cost-efficient.

I'm still not 100% convinced that this is a huge issue...sounds like it's a greater risk for the provider than the patient.

[LadyCapn]

How many of us would smear the inside of our rigs with peanut butter? We know what kind of reaction that would cause to someone who is allergic to peanuts. Latex allergies are no different. When we switch back and forth between latex and non latex gloves the damage is still done. As mentioned in previous posts, the latex particles are airborne and settle on everything.

Latex is banned in all hospitals, EMS and Fire Services in the Province of Ontario. Is that good enough anecdotal evidence?

[DaSharkie]

sounds like it's a greater risk for the provider than the patient.

Remember, at some point, we will all be a patient somewhere along the way in life. Might as well diminish the prospects right?

As for the remark about having an allergy after surgery, if I recall correctly, many children with birth defects requiring surgeries have a high probability to developing sensitivities to latex, especially those with Spina Bifida. They usually require a large number of surgeries to correct the damage and then develop the allergies.

[cozmosis]

The local ambulance service carries a seperate jump kit with all non-latex supplies. The bag stays sealed to prevent contamination. It's pulled and the seal broken when the patient notifies them of a latex allergy.

[Dalmatian90]

We have at least three members with at least a "sensitivity" to Latex if not outright allergic.

And one of them is also sensitive to Nitrile and carries her own Polyurethane (?) gloves!