For as long as latex gloves have been around, people have found it impossible to resist the urge to explore their usage outside the medical context. Latex glove balloon-making is as much a cliche as it is fun to do and the entertainment industry has done its bit to promote this lighter side.
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 accoutrements. 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.
Latex gloves make for more good viewing entertainment in Nick Park's The Wrong Trousers. Who could ever forget the dastardly, bank robbing penguin, Feathers McGraw, who ingeniously disguised himself as a chicken by snapping a rubbery glove on like a hat, the fingers waggling like a rooster's comb from the top of his head? If you have not seen this British clay animation, make sure you do. It is definitely for the whole family. Once again Netflix is an easy resource for this film and you can watch a preview of it online.
A fictitious medical school class, Balloon Making 101, is a standard joke among pediatricians. Many of these doctors are fairly adept at temporarily distracting small patients from their misery with inflated latex gloves. Paramedics have some facility with the things themselves, travelling around with plenty on board their ambulances. Their approach is somewhat different however, involving ambulance exhaust pipes. Stupidvideos.com shows how these guys can kill time, waiting for dispatch to send them out on the road. If you have time to kill yourself, you can search "ambulance vs latex glove" on that site.
There is obviously a lot of irresistible fun in latex gloves for there to be so many good laughs associated with them. One thing is for sure: they can help the balloon animal-impaired among us actually succeed in making a recognizable creature. This link gives the novice some starting pointers and the site's owner promises a future instructional DVD. Go to www.balloon hq.com and do a search for "ideas with latex gloves". Get out your magic markers and party on!
With the public mind's so preoccupied with H1N1 and other fears of contagion this season, lightening the atmosphere by injecting a little humor into disease-fighting props such as protective gloves and masks may be a healthy influence and not just a silly pursuit. After all, laughter has been proven to strengthen our immune systems.
Our author, Jen Long lives and works near Charleston, SC. She is Director of Web Community Support for an online retailer of Disposable Gloves. Jen is creating a document library to assist those working with gloves, All About Vinyl Disposable Gloves.
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