Assess a patient's pulse through the radial artery or the carotid artery based on their level of consciousness Show
A question posted on Quora asked, "Which artery will you choose for taking pulse in an emergency situation? Why?" EMT Ross Cohen gave his opinion on the topic. Read his response, and add your own to the comments. ByRoss Cohen This article was originally posted Dec. 8, 2014. It has been updated. There are many things in medicine that are merely a matter of preference or style. How to check a patient's pulse is not one of those things. It's a clear enough choice, a logical decision with a right answer and a wrong answer that dictate what the standard operating procedure should be, and I would correct any trainee I was precepting who did otherwise.
In a conscious adult, the radial artery is the preferred pulse point, for a number of reasons:
In an unconscious/unresponsive adult, the preferred pulse point is the carotid artery.
There are advantages and disadvantages for each method of checking a pulse, and some are more relevant in some situations than others. With any medical procedure, the benefits and efficacy of different options must be weighed against their risks. The level of invasiveness, ease or difficulty and necessity of frequent or extended checks, the emotional effect and the level of urgency must all be considered. There's not much to be gained from initially checking the carotid pulse of a conscious adult in most circumstances, but there are several downsides noted above. Conversely, there are no downsides to going right to the carotid on an unconscious adult. Absent special circumstances, conscious adults should get a radial pulse check and unconscious adults should get a carotid check. Read next: How to find and assess a radial pulse About the author Ross Cohen is an EMT and publisher of Quora's "Political Clarity, Demystifying U.S. Politics." About the authorThe EMS1 Community Q&A section features EMTs and paramedics answering questions from "Why don't paramedics run to patients?", to "What medic habits can't you shake?" From the lighthearted, to the clinical, we've asked and you've answered. Have a question you'd like to ask the EMS1 audience? Email us at . Which of the following is the purpose of a primary assessment?The purpose of the Primary Assessment (aka Primary Survey or Initial Assessment) is to determine the nature of the primary complaint and rule out, prioritize, and treat any immediate life-threatening airway, breathing and circulation problems.
Which of the following represents the correct order of assessment for the EMT during the primary assessment from start to end?A) CORRECT. The order of a primary assessment is: form a general impression, determine mental status, assess airway, assess breathing, assess circulation, and determine patient priority for transport.
What is the first thing the EMT does during the primary assessment quizlet?Airway and breathing are first assessed by talking to the patient. If patient can speak, then at least at some level the airway and breathing are intact.
What does the EMS professional evaluate during the primary assessment?The primary assessment as taught to EMS students generally involves some combination of the ABC's, level of consciousness, a general impression of the patient's condition and a definition of treatment priorities for the call.
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