How to Measure and Record a Pulse During First Aid

Knowing an injured person's pulse helps the rescuer assess the injury, and is an important indicator of how the person is responding to treatment. Record the pulse every 15 minutes, and pass the records on to a medical professional when you transfer care.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Notebooks
• Pens
• Stopwatches

1. Place the tips of your index and middle fingers on the injured person's wrist, at the base of the thumb.
2. Press your fingertips lightly until you feel the heartbeat in the artery that runs between the bones in the arm, just below the base of the thumb.
3. Count the number of beats for 15 seconds and multiply by four, or count for 30 seconds and multiply by two. This will give you the beats per minute.
4. Note whether the pulse beats in a regular rhythm or an irregular rhythm.
5. Note the degree of pressure you feel against your fingertips. Is this pressure strong or weak?
6. Record your findings in the following manner: rate, rhythm, strength. For example: "Pulse is 60 (beats per minute), regular and strong."

Tips & Warnings

• Too much pressure from your fingertips may make it difficult to feel the beat.
• The more you practice taking the pulse of healthy people, the easier it will be to find a pulse and notice irregularities in an injured person.
• If the heart rate is weak or irregular, count the number of beats for 30 seconds to get a more accurate reading.
• If symptoms persist or if you have specific medical conditions or concerns, we recommend you contact a physician. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.