Health benefits

Adhesive tapes of various sorts had been in use since the 1910s before an improved version was introduced during World War II. It was made of thin cotton tape, coated in waterproof plastic with a layer of rubber-based, grey adhesive, and easy to apply and remove. It was an ideal tool to repair military gear quickly, including weapons and vehicles, or to hold metal air ducts together. The tape known as duct tape was nicknamed duck tape. Because of the waterproof characteristics of a duck? That is just one of many theories. After the war, consumers and manufacturers alike realised the tape was good for more than adhering to ducts; it’s an amazing and versatile tool that has been and will be used for anything from the Apollo 13 mission to printing objects with a 3D printer.

My 22-year-old cousin Jacob, who is a promising young designer, introduced me to several websites, all claiming that this magical tape has some neat uses in the field of health and fitness too. I could hardly believe it, until I came across an online article by the University of Illinois regarding wart treatment with duct tape. I quote: “The duct tape should be cut approximately 1/4 inch in size larger than the actual wart(s). If the duct tape covers too much normal, healthy skin tissues, skin irritation will develop. The duct tape should be left in place for cycles lasting six days. After that, the duct tape should be removed, the wart soaked, then gently debrided with a thick emery board or pumice stone and left uncovered overnight. A new piece of duct tape should be reapplied the next morning.”

But that is not all. If you first feel the symptoms of an impending blister, it could be advisable to apply duct tape over the irritated spot as smoothly as possible. If a blister has already developed, you should protect it from the tape’s glue by placing a circle of paper or gauze directly over the blister, and then apply the duct tape on top. You may also want to use duct tape to make an emergency bandage or a DIY mask if you need one before administering mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Do bugs irritate you? Keep them at bay by hanging long strips of duct tape from the ceiling. Slipping socks could cause you to fall. You may even end up with broken bones. Avoid the risk by attaching a strip of duct tape to the bottom of each sock in order to make a non-slip sole. By the way, have you ever considered that duct tape would be one of the best tools to have around when it comes to preventing a camping trip from going downhill? Use it as a temporary fix for a hole in an air mattress or a rip in a tent or sleeping bag.

I do realise duct tape was not invented for most of the above purposes. But they clearly show the versatility of duct tape. Imagine what this extraordinary product could mean for you, your products and your company. Undoubtedly, self-adhesive tape offers solutions to many problems and challenges, even those you are not aware of yet.

If you would like to learn more about 3D printing and tape, please contact one of our members or visit their websites.