I believe that the gauze pad will absorb the most because their fibers are loose, meaning that they can absorb more and they are also recommended by professionals, but I think the band-aid will be the strongest after absorption because the main body is not an absorbing material, meaning that it will not be affected by the absorption test.

Since this project is an experiment project I have only researched topics that I could not test like why gauze pads are still not used in hospitals, how better bandages can save lives, why does absorption matter for bleeding control and first-aid, and what order should you use medical materials in first-aid

Independent Variable:  The independent variable in this experiment is the type of bandage being tested.  Dependent Variables:  The dependent variables are the amount of liquid absorbed and the structural integrity of the material after absorption.  Controlled Variables:  The controlled variables include the amount of fake blood used, the absorption time, the same fake blood mixture, measuring tools, and testing procedure.

·       Measure the same amount of fake blood (e.g., 10 mL) ·       Pour blood onto the bandage ·       Start the timer ·       After 30 seconds, measure: ·       how much liquid was absorbed (by weight or volume) ·       Repeat 3 trials per bandage ·       Calculate the average absorption ·       Also pull lightly on each bandage after each test to see how easily or hardly it will fall apart/structural integrity

The gauze pad does not tear with before and after use The bandage does not tear before and after use The cotton ball tears with moderate strength before and after use The paper towel tears with moderate strength before and effortlessly after

In this experiment the cotton ball absorbed the most "blood" with an average of 4.93ml. This is most likely due to the loose fibers of the cotton ball which allows it to soak up more "blood". The gauze pad absorbed an average of 2.57ml and stayed strong after testing. the Band-aid absorbed a very little amount of "blood" coming in at an average of 0.62ml this is most likely because it is a medical material which is supposed to protect the wound and not soak up lots of blood, but it did stay strong after testing. The paper towel absorbed the least amount of "blood" of 0.26ml and was very weak after use. My hypothesis was partially correct, i thought the gauze pad would absorb the most, the cotton ball absorbed more. I was correct with the Band-aid staying the strongest after testing. Overall soft materials with loose fibers absorb the most and bandages with a backing stayed the strongest

In this experiment, the cotton ball absorbed the most liquid with an average of 4.93 mL, making it the most absorbent material tested. It also absorbed the liquid the fastest. The gauze pad absorbed a moderate amount at 2.57 mL, while the band-aid absorbed much less at 0.62 mL. The paper towel absorbed the least, with an average of 0.26 mL. In terms of structural integrity, the gauze pad and the band-aid were the strongest because they were difficult to tear, while the paper towel was the weakest since it tore very easily. Overall, the results show that softer, thicker materials like cotton balls are better at absorbing liquid, while bandages that include non-absorbent backing material are stronger and more durable.

By understanding when to use each medical material in which order and their purpose in first-aid, people can treat wounds better. For example if someone knows that a cotton ball is a better absorber than a band-aid, they would use the cotton ball to help a blood clot form and then put a band-aid over the wound to protect it from infections

Some sources of error could be that different brands of paper towels and cotton balls are slightly different. Another one is that you put more than 5ml of fake blood or keep the bandage submerged for more or less than 30 seconds. Another major one is that the bandages is not cut into equal sizes.

https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/hygiene/first_aid/wounds.html    https://journals.cambridgemedia.com.au/application/files/6116/0611/7050/1101_01.pdf    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5663245/    https://www.quora.com/How-do-bandages-help-the-healing-process

I would enjoy the opportunity to formally acknowledge my mother and father as they both provided me with the wares necessary to the development and completion of this project. Without their assistance, the results derived from this experiment would be nigh impossible or under strenuous difficulty with regards to project completion. Additionally, I would like to formally acknowledge the assistance of my my 8th grade science teacher Ms. Mills. Who assisted me with regards to idea formulation & project development.