BAND-AID: Encyclopedia - BAND-AID

BAND-AID

BAND-AID is the registered trademark of Johnson & Johnson for their adhesive bandages used to cover small wounds. However, much of the consuming public in the United States, Canada and Australia uses the term band-aid generically, to refer to any such adhesive bandages (see genericized trademark). Such bandages are better known in many parts of the world as an 'adhesive plaster' or a 'sticking plaster'.

BAND-AID - History

A Johnson & Johnson employee named Earle Dickson is credited with inventing the adhesive bandage in the 1920s to more efficiently treat the wounds of his somewhat clumsy wife who often cut her fingers while preparing food. The bandages that were available were inconveniently bulky for Josephine's small fingers.

To solve this problem, Dickson cut strips of surgical tape, placed some gauze on the sticky side and then covered the strips with crinoline to keep them sterile while awaiting use. Dickson was rewarded with a raise and went to become a top executive in Johnson & Johnson, a job he kept until he retired.

BAND-AID - External link

• Inventor of the Week - Earle Dickson from the Lemuelson-MIT Program

Categories: Consumer goods | Brands

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "BAND-AID", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki