Anyone remember Band-Aid packaged with a red string?

[bcla]

I can't seem to find a picture, but I distinctly remember these things. The Band-Aid website does describe this as originating in 1924, but all they have is a picture of the string and not how it was used in the package.

I was thinking of this as I was opening up one to dress a wound. I remember when they had this string packaged in there and the ends were folded over several times and glued. You tore off one end and then pulled down on the string. I distinctly remembered some that were years old but still intact and theoretically still sterile. These days they use some sort of latex adhesive that pulls apart like most other brands. I've gone to some boxes that were a few years old and the adhesive had failed. Other times I stash a few some place like a backpack, and the mechanical action has caused the adhesive to fail. The old one was frustrating when it didn't work, but you knew that even after a decade of storage it would still be intact and there were no worries that it wasn't sterile. If the tearing didn't work, you could always use scissors.

Aid for Bandage Users: Band-Aids Without String
http://www.nytimes.com/1992/07/04/news/aid-for-bandage-users-band-aids-without-string.html

 

[soccerchick]

Yep - I'm 44 and remember those.




Anyone remember Band-Aid packaged with a red string?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I can't seem to find a picture, but I distinctly remember these things. The Band-Aid website does describe this as originating in 1924, but all they have is a picture of the string and not how it was used in the package.

I was thinking of this as I was opening up one to dress a wound. I remember when they had this string packaged in there and the ends were folded over several times and glued. You tore off one end and then pulled down on the string. I distinctly remembered some that were years old but still intact and theoretically still sterile. These days they use some sort of latex adhesive that pulls apart like most other brands. I've gone to some boxes that were a few years old and the adhesive had failed. Other times I stash a few some place like a backpack, and the mechanical action has caused the adhesive to fail. The old one was frustrating when it didn't work, but you knew that even after a decade of storage it would still be intact and there were no worries that it wasn't sterile. If the tearing didn't work, you could always use scissors.

Aid for Bandage Users: Band-Aids Without String
http://www.nytimes.com/1992/07/04/ne...ut-string.html
bcla is online now Report Post

 

[usnuzuloose]

Remember those things so well.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

I remember! That's how you used to open them-you pulled on the red string until it ripped down the side of the bandaid.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I remember them, but I never really used the string.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

Remember Mercurochrome? That orange stingy stuff? Do they still make that? My mother swore by that for cuts and scrapes.

 

[JessicaR]

Yes I remember the red strip and the metal box they came in. Not sure when that pull down strip went away.

 

[bcla]

I remember! That's how you used to open them-you pulled on the red string until it ripped down the side of the bandaid.

They didn't always work well. I remember sometimes the string came completely out without tearing the paper.

I can find plenty of pictures of old tins, but none of the individual packaging.

 

[bcla]

Yes I remember the red strip and the metal box they came in. Not sure when that pull down strip went away.

1993. It's mentioned in the NYT article I linked.

 

[LoserMomma]

Yes, and I remember the stupid string breaking while you're trying to open it one handed because the other hand is dripping blood onto the floor.

 

[Disneylover99]

1993. It's mentioned in the NYT article I linked.

Wow! It's been that long? I remember those strings like it was yesterday.

 

[bcla]

Remember Mercurochrome? That orange stingy stuff? Do they still make that? My mother swore by that for cuts and scrapes.

Effectively banned in 1998 by the FDA due to a potential for mercury poisoning in large enough quantities. It was probably fine for small cuts, but some people were dabbing it over large road-rash sized scrapes. I don't think it was necessarily proven to cause mercury poisoning, but the FDA wanted the manufacturers to prove that it wouldn't cause mercury poisoning.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merbromin

It's possible to get it overseas. There is something sold as "Mercurachrome" in the US but it's apparently some different preparation.

 

[tina.tina]

Yes, and I remember the stupid string breaking while you're trying to open it one handed because the other hand is dripping blood onto the floor.

Yep!

 

[MickeySP]

Remember Mercurochrome? That orange stingy stuff? Do they still make that? My mother swore by that for cuts and scrapes.

I remember both. I always liked to open all the band-aids cause it was fun when I was like 6.

OMG I do remember that awful orange liquid. I remember it stung like crazy just like Bactine

 

[bcla]

I never had the string break on me. But sometimes it just wouldn't tear through the paper, and it would just pull completely out. I don't think this would happen if you had three hands and could pinch at the bottom to keep the string from coming out.

What I recall is that the only way to open it with two hands was to tear it off at one end, pinch near the recently opened end, and tug on the string down. Then the bottom would get yanked a little bit while it tore through, or else the string wouldn't stay attached to the end and could come all the way out.

 

[jenflamingo1]

Yes ,I remember that thin , tiny red string !



When I was 10 and my sister was 5 , she had a cut that required a Band-aid . As Mom opened the package , Crying Child noticed the red string . Her crying quickly turned to terror as she looked at said string ... (quavering shriek )... " Is that for STITCHES ???"

brought down the house !

 

[wiigirl]

Yes!

 

[MickeyEars]

I'll be 50 next month and I remember both of those very well. My grandmother believed in putting that "orange stuff" on every type of injury!!

Carla

 

[NFLDERS]

I remember them too. Likely I was opening them for my two sons though as I don't recall having a problem using them. Today I think I'd enjoy them b/c now as a senior I find it a challenge to open band aids and not get
flustered.

 

[bcla]

I remember them too. Likely I was opening them for my two sons though as I don't recall having a problem using them. Today I think I'd enjoy them b/c now as a senior I find it a challenge to open band aids and not get
flustered.

I keep my fingernails short. Makes it more difficult to use one of these packages.

Still - a lot of gauze pads come in similar sealed packaging that just tears off and you pull it out. With the standard small bandage package, you have to peel them away. And once you've got one side peeled off, you might have to dig in to peel off the bandage from the paper.

The thing about the old Band-Aid package was that you frankly didn't have to use the string. Once the end was torn it would just slide out. The string was just sort of a gimmick.