What type of bleeding is indicated by dark, red blood flowing steadily from a laceration?

The situation described involves dark red blood flowing steadily from a laceration, which is characteristic of venous bleeding. Venous blood is usually deoxygenated, giving it a darker appearance compared to arterial blood. When a vein is lacerated, the flow of blood is typically steady and can be continuous, as veins rely on surrounding muscle and body movement to help propel blood back to the heart, rather than the high-pressure spurting that is seen with arterial bleeding.

In this case, the steady flow of dark red blood indicates that the source of the bleeding is likely from a vein, as opposed to arteries, which would produce bright red blood that spurts with each heartbeat due to higher blood pressure. Understanding these differences is crucial in emergency situations, as they can affect how a responder chooses to manage the bleeding and treat the injury appropriately.