Did you know that you must use your index and middle fingers to check the victim’s pulse? This is because the arterial pulse of these fingers is weak. So, you won’t mistake your pulse for the victims. So, never check your pulse using your thumb, as you may be mistaken to feel your pulse. In addition to the pulse, you can feel the victim’s heartbeat by placing your ear against the left side of the victim’s chest. According to the victim’s age, choose the best pulse, and see which is the easiest.
Body Temperature
Our organism has a diversity of mechanisms that work together to maintain an almost constant body temperature, allowing only minimal variations. The temperature is measured using thermometers (mercury or digital), which must be placed for a few minutes (3 to 5 minutes) in the armpit or the mouth. The thermometer is an old acquaintance of all of us. Of course, we have already used a thermometer to measure temperature on ourselves or someone else. The most common type of thermometer has a column of mercury that moves according to body temperature. Still, there are also digital thermometers, which record the temperature directly on display.
The following are the temperature deviations:
- Febrile state: 37.5 to 38ºC
- Fever: 38 to 41ºC
- Hyperthermia: greater than 41ºC
- Hypothermia: less than 35ºC
The temperature felt on the skin without using a thermometer is the peripheral body temperature, which differs from the central body temperature. This, in turn, is the internal temperature (it can be measured with the aid of a thermometer), which, throughout the day, undergoes great changes according to the temperature of the environment. Even if the person is very cold or very hot, the temperature must be checked using the thermometer so that it is possible to classify it as hypothermia or fever.
Breathing
Breathing, in practice, is the set of two movements: that of the lungs and that of the chest muscles. Breathing involves inhalation, which is the entry of air through the mouth and nose, and exhalation, which is the exit of air through the nose and mouth. And how should you, the rescuer, feel the victim’s breathing? You can perceive it in two ways:
Through breathing movements, the movement of “up and down the chest” is called “panting.”
By approaching the victim’s mouth or nose, to hear or feel breathing.
Cardiac Arrest
As you have seen, the heart is an organ that pumps blood throughout the body, including the lungs, where it will be oxygenated. Cardiac arrest which can be treated by a cardio doctor such as cardiocare cardio doctor occurs when the heart stops. As a result, there is no transport of oxygen to the body. As the brain is a very sensitive organ to lack oxygen, after about 4 minutes, it starts to suffer irreversible damage, leading to brain death. As mentioned earlier, to identify if the victim is experiencing cardiac arrest, you should check their heartbeat. And what is the correct way to check the heartbeat?
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