BASIC VITAL SIGNS AND DETECTION METHODS.

At Blu Sky Care we believe that early detection is a core fundamental of our ethos and commitment to people’s wellbeing.

In order to achieve this, all staff should be able to detect the basic vital signs in our client’s mental and physical condition. 

Being able to detect variations form normal health status is a priority and this is considered a basic part of your work requirement.

Basic health measurements are called vital signs. These include temperature, pulse, respiration, (TPR) and weight. Blood pressure (BP) is also a vital sign, but requires more instruction, and lots of practice to get an accurate reading.

Body Temperature

Body temperature can vary throughout the day but it can be a useful indicator of illness if the thermometer is used correctly. Report your concerns to your supervisor and don’t take action on your own.

Normal body temperature is usually considered to be in the range 36–37C. Infection or diseases may cause it to rise both abruptly or gradually. On the other hand, body temperature tends to be lower in a person suffering from starvation or after exposure to excessive cold and it is also a little lower when a person is asleep. Be aware that temperatures might slightly for a short period of time due to exercise, nervous tension, dehydration, and muscular activity.

Pulse

Your pulse rate is actually your heart rate. Place your first two fingers on the wrist near the base of the thumb. Move them around until you feel the pulse throbbing as strongly as possible. In order to get the correct pulse rate count the number of beats you feel in a minute using a clock with a second-hand and remember to note the rate, strength and rhythm.

Respiration

The respiration rate is the number of times a person breathes in a minute in a complete in-and out cycle and it’s usually observed while the person is resting. To take the respiration rate, count the breaths for a full minute. Teens and adults usually breathe somewhere around 20 times each minute, while a child has a higher normal rate of breathing. It may help you see the breaths if you place your hand lightly on the person’s chest and watch it rise and fall. The number of breaths per minute is important only if there is some problem, such as in the case if someone has a fever, because there are several normal situations which cause breathing to be more rapid such as (e.g. walking up stairs).