71-year-old Margaret is trying to plant some new flowers in the pot on her porch. Digging in her trowel, Margaret somehow slices into a finger of the opposite hand. She goes inside and washes it, but it just keeps bleeding. Margaret calls the emergency line, and EMR Juan is dispatched to assess the wound. Juan makes sure that the wound is clean, applies pressure using a gauze pad, and has Margaret elevate her hand for a few minutes. It takes a while for the steady flow of blood to subside, but finally, the wound stops bleeding. Juan applies an adhesive bandage and gives Margaret some signs of infection to look out for. Which of the following conclusions can BEST be drawn about Margaret’s wound?

Question

It is serious because Margaret obviously has cut an artery and could bleed to death without help.

Margaret must have sliced into a vein, and this causes bleeding, which is dangerous because of Margaret’s age.

The abrasion is only a wound to the capillaries and will seep blood for a while but then heal on its own.

Margaret’s bloodstream already has bacteria in it that is keeping the wound from being able to clot.

Answer 1

The best conclusion that can be drawn about Margaret’s wound, given the information provided, is:

The abrasion is only a wound to the capillaries and will seep blood for a while but then heal on its own.

This conclusion is most supported because the scenario describes a steady flow of blood that eventually subsided after appropriate first aid measures (pressure and elevation), which typically indicates a minor wound involving capillaries rather than a more severe injury involving arteries or veins. The fact that Juan was able to manage the bleeding with standard first aid also suggests that the wound is not life-threatening. The other options imply more severe issues that are not substantiated by the details provided.