What materials are categorized as bandages?

Bandages are materials specifically used to secure a dressing in place over a wound or injury, thereby providing protection and promoting healing. The correct answer recognizes that any material serving this purpose fits the definition of a bandage. This includes a wide variety of items such as adhesive bandages, elastic wraps, and even cloth strips. Their primary function is to hold dressings securely while also potentially providing support to the injured area.

Other options are too restrictive or specific. For instance, mentioning only elastic wraps excludes other important types of bandages that fulfill the same role. The choice indicating only sterile gauze pads overlooks the necessity that bandages can include non-sterile options as well, especially in environments where sterility is not critical or urgent. Lastly, referring to plaster materials used for immobilization confines the definition of bandages to a specific type of support material, removing consideration of the broader range of materials that can also hold dressings in place.