Booth Id:
TMED001
Category:
Year:
2016
Finalist Names:
France, Katelyn
Abstract:
The problem for my experiment was to see if a QR code medical bracelet works better than a standard medical bracelet. My hypothesis was that it would work better than a standard one, and it was supported.
To do this experiment, I had to get a standard medical bracelet and find volunteers. Then, I created a QR code and got it laser cut and attached it to a watchband. Next, I ran the experiment, timing my volunteers to see how long it took them to ‘save’ someone who was pretending to be in anaphylactic shock, first with the standard bracelet, then with mine.
I tested a total of 18 people, 6 per each of my three different age categories. What I found was that both of my younger groups did far better than the adults. They were able to go 20-30 percent faster with my code, while the adults were able to go 64 percent faster, more than the two other groups combined.
The adults did the best, which shocked me. I had believed they’d be confused by the technology, but they went as fast as the kids. Something I didn’t take into account: it had been years since some of the adults had had CPR training, whereas the kids had just completed their training and knew what they needed to do, giving them an advantage. The importance of my research includes helping create a new form of technology. Further research would include working with hyperlinks and with other diseases.