The Pulse

The pulse is generated by the beating of the heart, which causes pressure on the arterial walls. The pulse can be felt at those point in the body that there arteries pass close to the body surface. The pulse of an average adult is between 60 and 80 beats per minute. For children it is usually faster than this and can be much slower in very fit adults.

The pulse rate increases with exercise and can also change as a result of illness/injury.

The pulse is taken from three different places. The radial pulse is taken at the wrist, the carotid pulse is taken at the neck. For babies the brachial pulse can be taken. This is found on the inside of the upper arm.

When checking a pulse it is always important to remember that you must use you fingers and not your thumb. This is due to the fact the thumb contains its own pulse and so may result in you mistakingly taking your own pulse and not that of your casualty.