How to Measure and Record Vital Signs During First Aid

Frequent measurement of an injured person's vital signs will help the rescuer assess the injury. Vital signs are an important indicator of how the person is responding to treatment. Check and record these early in your treatment, and recheck them often.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Powerful Flashlight

Measuring Level of Consciousness and the Pupils

1. Assess the injured person's level of consciousness.

2. Shine a flashlight or headlamp into the injured person's eyes.

3. Note whether the pupils contract symmetrically when exposed to the light.

4. Note whether the pupils are equal in size.

Measuring Pulse, Skin and Respiration

5. Assess the injured person's pulse for rate, rhythm and strength. (See "How to Measure and Record a Pulse During First Aid.")

6. Look at the injured person's fingernail beds or the inner skin of the eyelids and note the color. Are they pink, red, yellow or blue?

7. Feel the injured person's forehead, hands and stomach, and note the temperature and moisture.

8. Assess the injured person's respiration for rate, rhythm and strength. (See "How to Measure and Record Respiratory Rate.")

Capillary Refill Time

9. Press the injured person's fingernail bed with your thumb and then release.

10. Note the amount of time it takes for the blood to return to the white spot, turning it pink.

Tips & Warnings

• Blood will return to a healthy person's capillaries in less than two seconds, changing the color of the pressed spot from white to pink.
• If the white area does not turn pink within two seconds, this may indicate that oxygen-rich blood is not circulating properly.
• 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.

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