The Band-Aid was invented in 1920 by a Johnson & Johnson employee, Earle Dickson, in Highland Park, New Jersey, for his wife Josephine, who frequently cut and burned herself while cooking.

Dickson pitched the idea to Johnson & Johnson, and the company quickly began production. The resulting product name came from the combination of the words “bandage” and “first-aid.”

A band aid (smaller) is for smaller cuts and scrapes, while a bandage (bigger) can be used to stabilize fractured of broken bones and be wrapped over larger cuts and scrapes. Band aids usually have sticky sides, while bandages sometimes have velcro or clips to stay attached.

1921 The first BAND-AID® Brand Adhesive Bandage hit the market in 1921. Johnson & Johnson cotton buyer Earle E. Dickson, came up with the idea for his young wife, Josephine, who was plagued by minor cuts and burns in her daily cooking.

A band-aid not only protects the wounded area from constantly rubbing against the clothing but also helps in keeping dirt & bacteria away. Always ensure that the bandage is removed in a slow motion. Ripping off the bandage too quickly can risk reopening the wound or peeling off the scab.

A dressing is used to protect a wound and prevent infection, but also to allow healing. A dressing should be large enough to totally cover the wound, with a safety margin of about 2.5 cm on all sides beyond the wound.

The first BAND-AID® Brand adhesive bandages were made by hand, measuring 3 inches wide and 18 inches long. “They weren't a big hit at first - only $3,000 worth were sold the first year - because people weren't sure how to use them,” Gurowitz says.

Earle Dickson A staple in first-aid kits and bathroom cabinets for decades, the invention of the adhesive bandage came from a Johnson & Johnson cotton buyer named Earle Dickson who sought a better, practical solution to an everyday problem.

Brand Name: Band-Aids Actual Name: Adhesive Bandages When you get a cut, you put on a Band-Aid, right? Wrong. You put on an adhesive bandage. Band-Aids, trademarked by Johnson & Johnson, have been a fixture of American medicine cabinets and first aid kits since 1924.

Dress the affected area with an appropriate bandage - such as BAND-AID® Brand SKIN-FLEX® Bandages - and keep it covered until the wound is completely healed. This creates a moist environment, perfect for healing, and helps protect the wound from dirt and germs.

Earle Dickson A staple in first-aid kits and bathroom cabinets for decades, the invention of the adhesive bandage came from a Johnson & Johnson cotton buyer named Earle Dickson who sought a better, practical solution to an everyday problem.

Brand Name: Band-Aids Actual Name: Adhesive Bandages.