A patient is bleeding severely from the forearm just below the elbow. After applying direct pressure and elevation, which artery should be pressed to control bleeding?

• A. Radial artery
• B. Brachial artery
• C. Ulnar artery
• D. Axillary artery

Answer: (B)

When stopping a severe arm bleed, you want to cut off arterial inflow by pressing a major artery proximal to the wound. For a forearm wound below the elbow, the best artery to compress is the brachial artery. It runs through the upper arm and supplies the forearm, so applying firm pressure on it (along the medial upper arm, near the biceps/triceps area) reduces blood flow to the forearm quickly and effectively. Pressing a distal artery like the radial or ulnar would not stop the inflow from higher up, and the axillary artery is too far proximal and not as readily accessible for this injury.