Signs of Life in an Adult

There comes a time in many people's lives when they are required to perform basic life-saving procedures on an adult. Several medical conditions render a person helpless, including a heart attack, seizure or stroke. Regardless of the reason for initiating life-saving first aid, the first step is always the same. Check certain vital signs to confirm the person is alive.

Consciousness

• The first indicator that a person is alive is if she is conscious, meaning she is walking or talking. Asking her a couple of questions ensures she is truly conscious. The way in which she responds gives an indication as to her mental state.

Breathing

• Another life sign that is often clearly visible is breathing. Oftentimes, simply watching the person's chest to see if it is rising and falling indicates whether he is breathing. If this is inconclusive, place a mirror beneath the person's nose to see if he is exhaling water vapor. Listening near the person's mouth for breathing sounds also indicates if he is breathing. If a stethoscope is available, use it to determine breath sounds.

Pulse

• Humans need a pulse to live. The pulse indicates that the heart is pumping, and that blood is flowing through the arteries and veins. There are several pulse points on the human body. Any one of these is used to determine if someone has a pulse. If an injury was sustained above the pulse point, there is sometimes no pulse. For example, if a person's thigh was injured, it is best not to check for a pulse at the ankle of the same leg. The inside of the wrist or ankle and the throat are common pulse points.

Brain Function

• While brain function is the last thing for which to check in an emergency situation, determining whether someone's brain is functioning determines whether they are alive or dead. One way to determine this in the field is to lift the person's eyelids and shine a penlight into them, one at a time. If the pupils contract, it is a good indicator that the person's brain is functioning. It is important to check both eyes because damage sustained to one eye sometimes causes it to not contract. More advanced medical testing, such as an electroencephalogram, or EEG, is used once the person reaches the hospital to ensure brain function.