BAND-AID

BAND-AID is the registered trademark of Johnson & Johnson for their adhesive pads used to cover small wounds. However, much of the consuming public in the United States 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'.

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 accident-prone wife, Josephine. He cut strips of surgical tape, placed some gauze on the sticky side then covered the strips with crinoline to keep them sterile while awaiting use.

There is no relationship with Johnson & Johnson or any of their associated products to Band Aid, the charity collective assembled in 1984 to perform the song "Do They Know It's Christmas?", or other related musical ensembles.