Work Gloves

A pair of durable work gloves is an essential piece of personal protective equipment for your emergency kit. Their primary purpose is to protect your hands from injury while performing tasks in a hazardous environment. After a disaster like an earthquake, tornado, or flood, your surroundings can be littered with broken glass, sharp metal, splintered wood, and other dangerous debris. Attempting to move these objects or perform cleanup with bare hands is a sure way to get cuts, splinters, and punctures, which can easily lead to infection when medical care is limited.

When choosing gloves for your kit, look for heavy-duty leather or a durable synthetic equivalent. They should be thick enough to provide protection from punctures but still offer enough dexterity to handle tools. Ensure you have a pair that fits you well; gloves that are too large can slip off, and gloves that are too small can restrict movement. It's a good idea to have a pair for every able-bodied member of your family who might be assisting with tasks.

Work gloves are crucial for a wide range of post-disaster activities. You might need them to shut off a utility line using a Wrench or Pliers (to turn off utilities), clear a path for evacuation, or sort through rubble. Protecting your hands is not a luxury; it's a necessity. An injury to your hands can render you unable to perform other critical tasks, like administering first aid or preparing food. These gloves are a fundamental part of your safety gear, allowing you to work and protect yourself in a dangerous environment, thereby increasing your effectiveness and reducing your risk of injury.