How to Measure a Person's Pulse & Respiration

Medical professionals use vital signs such as respiration and pulse to monitor the body for any possible health issues. The pulse is the measurement of how many times the heart beats in one minute. Normal pulse activity in an adult is 60 to 100 beats per minute. Respiration is measured by how many breaths are taken in one minute. Normal respiration in an adult at rest is 15 to 20 breaths per minute.

Things You'll Need

• Watch with a second hand

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Instructions

• 1

  Strap a watch with a second hand onto the wrist opposite of the hand that you will use to check the pulse.

• 2

  Turn the person's arm over so you see the bottom side of the wrist. Place your index and middle fingers on the person's wrist on the artery. The artery is in the middle of the wrist about 1/2 inch away from the bend of the wrist leading up the arm. In most people, you can see the artery, which has a bluish color. Press down gently but firmly until you feel the arterial pulse, which feels like a heart beating. The pulse is a pulsation that stops and starts. You may need to move your fingers around a little to feel a strong pulsation.

• 3

  Start counting the pulses when the second hand on the watch is at 12. Count how many pulses you feel for the next 30 seconds. Stop counting when the second hand reaches the six.

• 4

  Continue holding your fingers on the person's wrist. Look at the person's chest to count how many breaths he takes. Count the breaths he takes for 30 seconds, watching the second hand as it moves from the six back to the 12.

• 5

  Multiply the pulse number by two to get the pulse rate for one minute. Multiply the number of breaths by two to get the number of breaths taken in one minute.