If one were to walk into Ms. Rachael Thomas’s, Science, first hour Forensics class, they would see students projecting blood onto large pieces of paper through syringes or flicking blood with popsicle sticks. All of these techniques were used in a lab to analyze blood.

“The lab was to determine what different blood splatters would look like from different velocities, or if how they were dripped or if someone was walking and how blood would look from that and different weapons and what kind of splatter they create,” Gabrielle Barrett (11) said.

Barrett and the other students worked with fake blood to stimulate what blood does when one is cut or shot, as well as how blood looks after someone attempts to clean it up.

“Working with the actual blood itself and analyzing all the splatter techniques was really cool,” Lauren Basting (12) said.

One particular technique required the students to project the blood onto a hanging piece of paper. The students then took note of the splatter pattern and drew a diagram of it in their lab notes.

“It was kinda gross because it was in my hand, and that’s weird,” Barrett said.

This lab was a way for the students to understand what kind of analysis goes into blood at crime scenes and what they can tell the crime scene investigators, such as the direction a person was walking, or even what caused the splatter. Those who wish to pursue a career in this field have to understand these techniques.

“I’ve considered a career in forensics, but I’m kinda squeamish around blood, so I probably won’t,” Barrett said.

Students in Ms. Thomas’s forensics class will use this lab as a part of their final test.