What color is blood when it is first shed?

When blood is first shed, it appears red due to the presence of oxygenated hemoglobin, which is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. This bright red color is particularly noticeable when blood is oxygen-rich, such as when it comes from arteries. The color can change based on the oxygen saturation level: oxygenated blood from the arteries is bright red, while deoxygenated blood returning to the heart through veins is a darker red. This distinction is crucial in understanding the different contexts in which blood color can change; for example, venous blood, which is returning to the lungs for oxygenation, does appear darker but is not the color of fresh blood when first shed.