Question

how do you know when you hit an artery? are tgere signs? could he have hit a vein?

Answer 1

Veins are situated superficially and contain deoxygenated blood and arteries are situated deeply and contain oxygenated blood.

We usually draw blood from the veins as it is easy to access as well the walls of veins are less harder than arteries. The blood flowing through arteries are under high pressure.

When you hit an artery,

• Blood pressure will be great enough to force blood into the syringe.
• The arterial blood will be bright red in color
• Pricking an artery may be painful and crampy
• Above the artery, pulse can be felt, always check for pulsation before doing IV prick.

When you hit a vein,

• The blood will come slowly and when pricking vein the blood comes to the syringe only by drawing it.
• The venous blood is dark red in color.
• Pricking a vein is easy as it is superficial.
• There won't be pulsation over a vein.