Final answer:
In a medical or surgical setting, paper bands should be removed from sponges, and the sponges should then be placed into separate piles to maintain sterility and accurate count.
Step-by-step explanation:
When handling sponges in a medical or surgical context, it is important to maintain their sterility to prevent infection. The correct procedure is to remove the paper bands before use. Once the paper bands are removed, the sponges should be separated into separate piles to prevent cross-contamination and to maintain an accurate count to ensure none are left inside the patient after a procedure. Therefore, the correct answer is: c) Remove paper bands; separate into separate piles.