“Role of Duct Tape in Emergency Preparedness”

Gary Johnson, a 38-year veteran of the Los Angeles Fire Department, has discovered, first-hand, that duct tape can be employed in a variety of emergency situations. When Gary talked about emergency preparedness last March, he mentioned duct tape but left our audience wanting to know more. We figured that inviting Gary back and supplying the first 25 attendees with his or her own roll of tape would be just the ticket.

If you are confused about the difference between “duct tape” and “duck tape,” a little look back at the history of this versatile tool should help. You see, to assist in helping the war effort during World War II, the United States military asked Johnson & Johnson to devise a strong, waterproof, cloth-based tape that could keep unwanted moisture out of ammunition cases. The new product was called “duck tape” because it was made from a rubber-based adhesive applied to a durable duck-cloth backing. During the last half of the 20th century, however, a silver version was specifically manufactured to join together heating and air conditioning duct work, hence the differently spelled name, “duct tape.”
Yet over the years, the sticky tape, which was now manufactured in a rainbow of colors, became an indispensable item in the tool box, craft room, car trunk, backpack, sports bag or junk drawer—not to mention outer space—where back in 1972, it turned a highly dangerous situation into a successful mission for the Apollo 17 astronauts.