SKILLMAN, N.J. — Johnson & Johnson’s topical health care brands are marking the 125th anniversary of the first aid kit with a campaign featuring actress Maggie Gyllenhaal.
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Johnson & Johnson pioneered the first commercial first aid kits in 1888, originally for railroad workers. |
J&J said Tuesday that its Band-Aid, Neosporin and other topical brands are taking part in the Everyday Care campaign, in which the company is partnering with Safe Kids Worldwide and Gyllenhaal to prevent childhood injuries by helping educate children and their caretakers about sports safety.
The initiative focuses on the importance of first aid preparedness. Consumers can support the effort by creating custom first aid kits. When they buy three or more first aid products — such as Band-Aid adhesive bandages, Neosporin products, Johnson & Johnson Red Cross first aid products and Benadryl anti-itch topicals products — they will receive a free first aid bag. For every bag redeemed, the brands will donate to Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations dedicated to providing parents and caregivers with resources to protect kids from injuries.
"We are proud to continue our tradition of helping consumers provide comfort and care to their families every day through our partnership with Safe Kids Worldwide," stated Carmen Nestares, marketing director at Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Inc. "Now, when consumers create their custom first aid kits, they are not only contributing to a great cause, they are also better preparing themselves and their families with products that fit their specific needs, whether they are getting ready for a summer trip, camp, sporting activities or simply just updating their medicine cabinets."
According to J&J, in 1888 Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies pioneered the first commercial first aid kits, which were originally designed to help railroad workers care for the wounds and injuries they sustained from laying railroad track.
"I am happy to help celebrate this anniversary and lend my support to Safe Kids Worldwide to help ensure that families have access to essential first aid safety information," Gyllenhaal said in a statement. "Every family should have first aid essentials in their home."
To assess the first aid readiness and knowledge of consumers, the J&J topical health care brands recently conducted a survey with Wakefield Research, which revealed that many aren’t adequately prepared to handle everyday first aid situations.
The survey found that 42% of Americans have been unable to care for an injury because they lacked the first aid supplies on hand. Also, 62% of respondents said they don’t have an emergency preparedness plan in place, including an up-to-date first aid kit, emergency meeting place and copies of important documents.
Almost half (46%) of respondents also incorrectly believe that an uncovered wound heals faster than a covered wound. What’s more, 31% of adults don’t have a first aid kit, and those who do have a kit indicated that it has been an average of six months since they’ve checked them for expired products.
