Latex Gloves Fun, Latex Gloves Balloons, Party with Latex Gloves!

Disposable Latex Gloves

• The History of Latex Gloves
• Why Use Latex Gloves?
• What's In Latex Gloves?
• The Problem with Latex Gloves
• Latex Glove Allergies
• Powder Free Latex Gloves
• Powder Free Latex Gloves
• Latex Gloves and the IRS
• Party on with Latex Gloves!
• Latex Exam Gloves and MRSA

Who, in a bored moment, can resist puffing up a latex glove to see how far their imagination will run with the inflated object? Apparently not many since the practice is so wide spread that it is a cliché, even in show biz.

In the ‘70s, the popular TV series of M*A*S*H did its bit to popularize the lighter side of a number of medical acoutrements. The characters in the fictitious Korean War field hospital used IV bags as a critical component of their barrack’s hootch distiller and latex gloves for balloons to entertain the little urchins that passed through their camp from time to time. Medical practitioners, of course, had long before used gloves as party novelties and continue to be clever with whatever is around the practice. But there was just some particular added humor to the business whenever Hawkeye or Trapper were involved. For a trip down latex glove memory lane, you can check out M*A*S*H Season 2, Episode 6 via www.netflix.com.


Aardman Studios in the UK have brought some stellar latex glove moments to the silver screen. Clay animator and Aardman founder Nick Parks with his genius work, The Wrong Trousers, literally put the artist’s fingerprint on the show biz history of latex gloves. Along with his acutely developed characters of Wallace and Gromet, Nick introduced the laugh-hungry world to the penguin villain Feathers McGraw in The Wrong Trousers, his first full feature length animated movie. Getting into his bank robber disguise, Feathers infamously stretches a red latex glove over the top of his head to simulate a cock’s comb. The inflated fingers sitting on top of his head wave in the breeze, comically convincing. This film is worth popping up a bag of popcorn and sitting down with the whole family to enjoy. You can also preview this at Netflix and make a date.

Pediatricians jokingly refer to a fictitious medical school course called Latex Glove Balloon Making 101, supposedly where techniques for enhancing their bedside manner with the young patient are taught. Paramedics also can lay claim to some lighter moments with latex gloves. Their trucks travel along America’s roadways or wait in dispatch lots with boxes of gloves on board so it is bound to happen. Stupidvideos.com provides evidence of paramedics wrapping latex gloves over the end of ambulance tail pipes and exploding them when turning on the engine. A career that often requires hours of tedium between bursts of adrenalin must find its creative outlets.

For those of us who are impaired when it comes to making balloon animals, there is a ray of hope to be found at www.balloonhq.com. Once on the site, tap in “ideas with latex gloves” and you will discover an array of creature possibilities easily within your artistic capabilities. All it takes is some lung power and a magic marker to turn a dull latex glove into an entertainment darling. In fact, the ideas here make for a fun activity at a kids’ party.

With protective gloves and masks taking up more and more retail shelf space in this era of H1N1 and other pandemic fears, there is perhaps a wisdom in finding the lighter side of these objects. Laughter is, after all, an age old medicine and there is plenty of science to support how it boosts our immune systems.