Sticky bandages are a staple in any complete first aid kit. These simple tools provide quick and effective protection against infections for minor scrapes and cuts. That is, if they stay on long enough! Because this issue concerns parents, teachers and anyone who deals with scrapes and cuts on a regular basis, you might consider creating a science fair project that determines which brand of sticky bandages stays sticky the longest.

For this experiment you will need a set of different sticky bandages. Use well-established brands such as Band-Aid, as well as no-name brands found in local pharmacies and supermarkets. You should also consider using various types of Band-Aid brand, since they do not all have the same adhesive strength. You will also need a timer, an egg for each brand of bandage, a bowl, warm water and a permanent marker.

Develop a hypothesis regarding the effectiveness of each brand of adhesive strip. Consider the quality of the product based on the purpose for which it was designed. For example, the Band-Aid Sports Adhesive Strip may be a good candidate for the stickiest brand. This is because these bandages are designed to stay stuck on people who are highly active and sweating profusely. Record your hypothesis before you start the experiment.

Use the permanent marker to label each egg with the name of the brand and type of bandage used. For example, you might label one “Band-Aid Sports Adhesive Strip.” Unwrap one of each brand or type of bandage and stick to the appropriate eggs. Place one of the eggs in the warm water and start the timer. When the bandage falls off, stop the timer and record how long it took for the bandage to fall off. Repeat this for each of the eggs.

When you have finished the testing procedure, be sure to record all the relevant results. Now is the time to refer back to your hypothesis. Was it correct? If it was not correct, speculate as to why the experiment did not work out as planned. Record these speculations for future reference. You should also consider providing some potential avenues for further research. For example, you may suggest that an experiment be performed in which the quality of adhesive strips is tested outside of water.