Who Invented Band-Aids?
The Band-aid is a an adhesive bandage that is actually a copyrighted name brand manufactured by Johnson & Johnson. The Band-aid was invented by Earle Dickson for his wife Josephine in 1921.
History
Dickson observed that his wife often cut or burned her fingers while cooking. At that time, bandages were sold separately as gauze and tape, but he wanted to make it more manageable for self application. He cut pieces of adhesive tape and set a piece of gauze in the middle, which he sterilized. The product was passed on to his employer, Johnson & Johnson, who started marketing handmade ones immediately. The first Band-aids were not well received and did not gain prominence until 1924 when the first machine manufactured band-aids were made. With a publicity stunt in which the company gave free Band-aids to Boy Scouts and sent thousands of them overseas to the soldiers during WWI, band-aids soon because a household name.
Significance
For the consumer, Band-aids provided an easy way to cover small cuts and burns without needing the assistance of another person. The Band-aid also helped people to continue with their tasks after they had covered the wound and would not be hindered by gauze and tape falling apart.
Function
Band-aids are solid sterilized to the public and are used as bandages on small cuts, scraps, abrasions and wounds. Band-aids are not to be used in place of stitches.
Considerations
Today Band-aids are a household item. They became ever more popular when in the 1950s Johnson & Johnson began to manufacture patterned and decorated Band-aides. Today children enjoy Band-aids covered with images of smiley faces, Batman, Spider Man and Spongebob Squarepants.
Benefits
Band-aids act as a fast way to cover an open wound to prevent infection. They are sterile and therefore not contaminated with outside bacteria and are safe to use when immediately taken out of the wrapper.
