How to Measure and Record a Pulse During First Aid

Explore this Article

methods

1Correct Pulse Measurement

2First Aid

Other Sections

Expert Q&A

Related Articles

References

Since heart rate is one of the necessary vital signs to determine a person's condition, knowing how to measure a pulse is a necessary part of any first aid training. By properly taking a patient's pulse, you can inform emergency medical personnel of their status so they can administer treatment more quickly. Knowing this basic first aid skill can help you save someone's life.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Correct Pulse Measurement

1. 
   1
   Locate the pulse in their wrist, neck, armpit, or elbow. The most effective place to measure the pulse is on the inside of the patient's wrist. With your middle and index fingers, feel around on the patient's wrist. The pulse is usually strongest on the thumb side. When you feel a strong, steady pulse, hold your fingers there.

   • Be sure to never use your thumb to take the pulse. Your thumb has its own pulse and it could confuse you when you're taking a reading.
   • If you have trouble finding the pulse on the patient's wrist, try checking their carotid artery pulse. Put your index and middle fingers on the person’s neck alongside their windpipe, just under their jaw. You should be able to feel a pulse on either side of their neck.
   • If you are trying to locate the pulse of a child, try under the armpit. Feel under their arm for the bone where the arm joins the shoulder, and you should find the pulse there. You may also be able to feel the pulse on the top of their foot.
   • If you are checking the pulse of an infant, try the crease of the elbow. If the infant is on their back, or if you can turn them onto their back without harming them, lay one of their arms at their side with the inner arm facing up. Use your fingers to locate the brachial pulse in the crease of their elbow. This also works on older children.
2. 
   2
   Count the heart rate for 60 seconds. When you've located the pulse, then count every beat you feel. Using either a watch or a timer on your phone, do this for 1 minute.

   • If you have trouble keeping count for a minute, you could alternatively count the pulse for 30 seconds and multiply the number of beats by 2, or measure for 15 seconds and multiply by 4.
   • If someone else is nearby, it helps to have one person measure the pulse and one keep time. That way, you won't lose count trying to do both at once.
   Advertisement
3. 
   3
   Get medical help for an abnormal heart rate. Once you've recorded the heart rate, you have to assess the results to see if there are any problems. A normal pulse rate for a healthy adult is usually in the range of 60 to 100 beats per minute. If the person is exhibiting symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, headaches, and shortness of breath and their pulse falls outside of this range, seek medical attention.

   • Pulses can vary based on age, sex, and level of physical activity. In fact, many athletic people will have a heart rate lower than 60 BPM, as their hearts are in good condition and don't need to work as hard to pump blood throughout the body.
   • Children's pulses usually range between 80 to 160 BPM. An infant's pulse may be up to 120 BPM.
   Advertisement

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

First Aid

1. 
   1
   Look for signs of a medical emergency, like difficulty breathing. Basic first aid covers a multitude of possible conditions. Some situations don't require medical attention or taking vital signs. Others require immediate medical attention. Some examples of symptoms that require emergency attention include:

   • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
   • Chest or upper abdominal pain or pressure lasting 2 minutes or more
   • Fainting, sudden dizziness, or weakness
   • Skin that suddenly turns pale or grey, or lips that are blue
   • Changes in vision
   • Difficulty speaking
   • Confusion or changes in mental status, unusual behavior, or difficulty walking
   • Any sudden or severe pain
   • Uncontrolled bleeding
   • Severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhea
   • Coughing or vomiting blood
   • Unusual abdominal pain
2. 
   2
   Get medical help if there is a medical emergency. If you've assessed the situation and determine that there is a medical emergency, you should seek medical attention before doing anything else. Call 911 or your local emergency number.

   • If you are unable to make the call yourself, be sure to tell one specific person to do so.
   • If you're unsure of the patient's exact condition, contact an emergency response team an get to the hospital in an ambulance.
   • First state your location, then your situation. The responders need to know where you are before all else.
   • If you know you can get to the hospital quickly, know the way by heart, and are certain the patient's condition won't get worse on the way, you can try to drive to the emergency room. If you have already alerted emergency services and you choose to move the person, remember to update the first responders of your decision to do so and your position as you approach the hospital.
   • Never attempt to move a patient if they have a spinal or neck injury. Always call an ambulance if you suspect this type of injury.
3. 
   3
   Make sure the patient is breathing properly. Before taking the pulse, check to see if the patient is breathing. If they are breathing, you can move on to taking their pulse.

   • Extend the patient’s neck so that their chin is pointing up.
   • Listen at their mouth for breathing.
   • Watch their chest for proper rise and fall of the lungs.
   • If the patient has stopped breathing, you may need to perform CPR. The procedure is different for adults and children, so you should know how to do both. Taking a class is a great way to learn to do CPR.
   • Check out the How.com.vn articles on How to Do CPR on an Adult and How to Do CPR on a Child to prepare.
4. 
   4
   Take the patient's pulse while you’re waiting for medical help. After you've contacted emergency medical personnel and ensured that the patient is breathing, then you can begin checking the patient's vital signs.

   • If possible, have the patient sit up. If they are unconscious or you suspect a neck or spinal injury, do not attempt to move the patient. Take the pulse as best you can in the position the patient is in.
   • Remember to record the beats per minute and what time it was so you can tell the EMTs when they arrive. This will ensure that they know what they're dealing with and can provide the best care possible.
   • Also record the strength of the pulse. If you can barely detect the pulse, it would be categorized as weak. If the pulse is very powerful, the heart is beating too forcefully. Let the medical staff know if the pulse seems abnormally weak or strong.
5. 
   5
   Continue measuring the pulse every 5 to 10 minutes until help arrives. Even if the injury seems relatively minor, a patient's condition can change very quickly. Keep monitoring the pulse until help arrives, writing down the beats per minute and what time it was when you took the measurement. If there are any dramatic changes, it could indicate that the original injury or health emergency was worse than you thought.
   Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

• Question

  How do I get my pulse rate up?

  

  Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
  Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner

  Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006.

  

  Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS

  Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner

  Expert Answer

  There are several ways to get your pulse rate up. You can energetically rub the palms of your hands in front of your chest together until you feel warm and your arms are fatigued. You can walk or jog until you feel your heart rate is up. You can drink a caffeinated beverage such as green tea or a cup of coffee, which also would increase your heart rate.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If How.com.vn has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support How.com.vn

  YesNo

  Not Helpful 0Helpful 0

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement