When should you wear gloves?

• A. Providing care to a person in need
• B. Handling dirty towels
• C. Both providing care and handling dirty towels
• D. Never wear gloves

Answer: (C)

Gloves create a barrier to protect both you and the person you’re helping from infections. In caregiving, you often come into direct contact with body fluids, secretions, or contaminated items, so wearing gloves reduces the chance of transferring germs. The same idea applies to handling dirty towels or laundry, which can be contaminated with bodily fluids or other pathogens. Because either situation involves potential exposure, the best practice is to wear gloves in both scenarios. After finishing, remove gloves carefully and perform hand hygiene to prevent spreading germs. Never wearing gloves in these contexts increases the risk of infection for both you and others.