| If you surf online or look at the supermarket shelves | | | | under the Food Hygiene Regulations Act that when |
| the variety of plasters that are available can become | | | | handling or preparing food blue detectable plasters |
| a very complicated affair. There are different | | | | should be used on all cuts and grazes. |
| materials, shapes and sizes and all claiming to be the | | | | Washproof plasters offer a water resistant and |
| best...but just where did the first plaster come from? | | | | ventilated adhesive plaster which helps to provide |
| Well to trace the heritage of the modern day plaster | | | | discreet protection when you don't want the plaster to |
| you have to go back to 1920 when Earle Dickinson | | | | be seen, whereas fabric plasters are made from a |
| invented the first adhesive bandage. At the time Earle | | | | breathable material that improves healing time and |
| Dickinson was a cotton buyer for Johnson & | | | | reduces the risk of further infection. |
| Johnson and the story goes that his wife was | | | | So that's Blue detectable, washproof and fabric...but |
| “not very adept in the kitchen”. She was | | | | what's this hypo-allergenic type? A hypo-allergenic |
| always cutting herself in the kitchen and because | | | | plaster is a latex free adhesive plaster which reduces |
| applying gauze pads and adhesive tape was difficult | | | | the risk of an allergic reaction. |
| to do on her own, she often summoned her husband | | | | The First Aid Warehouse specializes in the supply of |
| to complete the task. | | | | first aid equipment and diagnostic products to both the |
| Johnson & Johnson, the company Earle was | | | | public and trade. They offer an extensive range of |
| working for, had been making sterile dressings and | | | | products including washproof, fabric and blue |
| adhesive tapes for decades, but nobody had ever put | | | | detectable plasters. |
| the two together. Dickson affixed squares of the | | | | With a wealth of industry knowledge, their online |
| cotton gauze to a long strip of tape and covered the | | | | e-commerce platform provides a safe and secure |
| whole thing in crinoline, which helped to stop the | | | | environment to purchase from. They accept all major |
| adhesive tape sticking to itself. Mrs Dickson could now | | | | credit and debit cards and welcome orders from |
| simply cut a piece from the strip, peel off the crinoline | | | | members of the public and health organisations |
| and bandage her wound. | | | | including Primary Care Trusts, Care Homes, Surgeries, |
| Not that the first years sales were ground breaking, | | | | schools etc. If you wish to set up a business account, |
| but over the next few years the product became | | | | you can contact them either via |
| more streamlined and grew into what everyone now | | | | sales@firstaidwarehouse.co.uk or on 0845 6121217 |
| knows as Band Aid –selling over 100billion over | | | | |
| the last 80 years. | | | | RESOURCES: |
| Nowadays the plaster has progressed into many | | | | This article is brought to you by First Aid Warehouse, |
| different ranges, materials, sizes and colours and some | | | | UK's premier supplier of medical equipment medical |
| of these are a legal requirement to stock. For example | | | | plasters , blood pressure monitors, first aid kits , medical |
| the blue detectable range of plasters are specifically | | | | furniture, burnshield dressings and stethoscopes . |
| designed for the catering industry and are required | | | | |