Band-Aid


 * This article is about the adhesive bandage. For the musical ensemble "Band Aid", see Band Aid (band).

Band-Aid is a 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, Brazil 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', 'sticking plaster' or simply 'plaster'.

The phrase "Band-aid" has also entered colloquial usage as a term for any temporary fix, just like rolex's. (e.g. "Band-aid solutions were used to fix the leak.")

History
The Band-Aid was invented in 1920 by Earle Dickson, an employee of Johnson & Johnson, for his wife Elenor Dickson and son Brandon Romanoff. The prototype product allowed his wife to dress her wounds without assistance. Dickson, a Highland Park, New Jersey resident at the time, passed the idea on to his employer who then went on to produce and market the product as the Band-Aid. Dickson had a successful career at Johnson & Johnson eventually becoming a Vice President before his retirement.

The first bandages produced were hand-made and not very popular. By 1924 Johnson & Johnson introduced the first machine that produced sterilized Band-Aids. In World War II, millions of Band-Aid bandages were shipped overseas.

In 1951 the first decorative Band-Aids were introduced to the market. They continue to be a huge success today with decorative themes such as Batman and Peanuts characters.

Today
Johnson & Johnson makes a variety of different products under the Band-Aid brand. These include Band-Aid liquid bandages and Scar Healing bandages. Their newest products include Active Flex bandages, which come in a variety of shapes. They also include waterproof Tough Strips, which have a strong adhesive, allowing for longer wear. In addition to wound treatment bandages, the company produces Burn-Aid, a burn gel which is applied via either a prepackaged bandage or a sachet.

Uses
Bandages that absorb a wound's fluids and maintain a natural moisture balance are ideal for healing.

Keeping a wound covered until it heals can prevent a scab from forming, thereby minimizing chances of scarring.

Bandages help prevent exposure to water, dirt and pathogens.

The Band-Aid brand competes with others such as 3M's Nexcare brand.