Adhesive bandage

Adhesive Bandage

An adhesive bandage, also known as a sticking plaster, sticky plaster, or simply a plaster in British English, is a small medical dressing used for injuries not serious enough to require a full-size bandage. They are also known by the genericized trademarks Band-Aid or Elastoplast.

History

The adhesive bandage was invented in 1920 by Earle Dickson, a cotton buyer for the Johnson & Johnson company, for his wife Josephine Dickson, who frequently cut and burned herself while cooking. The product was launched in 1924 under the Band-Aid brand name.

Design and Use

The adhesive bandage is composed of a small piece of fabric or plastic, coated on one side with an adhesive, and a smaller, padded sterile bandage in the center. The bandage is applied by removing the paper backing and placing the sticky side on the skin, with the padded area covering the wound.

Adhesive bandages are used to protect minor wounds from infection and to promote healing. They are used in first aid to cover small cuts, blisters, and abrasions.

Varieties

There are many varieties of adhesive bandages, including waterproof, flexible fabric, and heavy-duty varieties. Some adhesive bandages contain medicated ointment, and others are made of hypoallergenic material for people with sensitive skin.

See Also

• First Aid
• Wound Healing
• Bandage
• Earle Dickson
• Johnson & Johnson