North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services (NCOEMS) Practice Exam 2025 - Free NCOEMS Practice Questions and Study Guide

When blood flows in a steady, dark-red stream from a forearm wound, venous bleeding is indicated. This type of bleeding occurs when a vein has been damaged, allowing blood to flow out in a steady flow. The dark-red color of the blood seen in venous bleeding is due to its lower oxygen content compared to arterial blood, which appears bright red.

In venous bleeding, the blood tends to flow more consistently and can be profuse depending on the size of the vein that is injured. This is different from arterial bleeding, where blood typically spurts with each heartbeat due to the pressure in arteries. Capillary bleeding, on the other hand, would appear as a slow ooze and is usually less severe. Internal bleeding refers to blood loss that occurs within the body and would not be visible from a wound on the forearm. Therefore, the characteristics of blood flow and color support the conclusion that the bleeding is venous in nature.