How to Measure & Record Vital Signs During First Aid

Video Transcript

"You know, there are many ways to determine and assess the victim of an illness, accident or injury. Hi, I'm Captain Joe Bruni. What I'm going to discuss and talk about, is how to basically assess a persons vitals signs without using any technical instruments. Like a blood pressure cuff and stethoscope or things along those lines. The first thing that we want to assess is their level of consciousness through the pupils. Ask them do they know where they are, do they know their name and to see if they are alert and oriented. We can also take a light, shine it in the persons eyes to see if the pupils are equal and reactive. And if they are symmetrical and of the same size. Level of consciousness. The next thing we want to determine is pulse rate. We can gain the pulse rate or gage the pulse rate by feeling the radial pulse in the wrist or the carotid pulse up in the neck line. Count the beats for fifteen seconds. Multiply it by four for our heart rate. We would then move on to respiratory rate and count the respiratory rate watching rising chest fall. Or stomach rise and fall for fifteen seconds. Multiplying by four. Checking skin condition by examining whether they are pink and flushed, or pale and sweaty, or cool and clammy. Which would be a poor indicator. And finally checking capillary refill or circulation by taking a pen or some type of hard object like our fingernail. Pressing down on the nail bed and watching the white spot turn back to pink. In the time it takes to say the words capillary refill that nail bed should have flushed back pink again. All a good vital sign. Basic steps in determining vital signs without using any type of instruments or measuring equipment. I'm Captain Joe Bruni. Stay safe. And we'll see you next time."