Where is a pulse checked on a child?

Where is a pulse checked on a child?

• A. Place 2 or 3 fingers on the inner thigh, midway between the hip bone and the pubic bone and just below the crease where the leg meets the torso
• B. Place 2 or 3 fingers on the inside of the upper arm
• C. Place 2 or 3 fingers on the neck over the carotid
• D. Place 2 or 3 fingers on the wrist

Answer: (B)

In pediatric pulse checks during BLS, the pulse is checked on the inside of the upper arm to feel the brachial artery. Place two or three fingers gently on the inner upper arm, about halfway between the shoulder and elbow. This site is easiest to locate and reliably reflects circulation in infants and young children when you’re assessing for a pulse quickly. The other common sites aren’t as suitable in this scenario: the inner thigh is the femoral area, which isn’t used for a quick routine pulse check during BLS; the neck carotid is used more with older children and adults and can be harder to locate in small children; the wrist (radial) is also more challenging to feel in younger kids and isn’t the standard site for initial pulse assessment in a child.

In pediatric pulse checks during BLS, the pulse is checked on the inside of the upper arm to feel the brachial artery. Place two or three fingers gently on the inner upper arm, about halfway between the shoulder and elbow. This site is easiest to locate and reliably reflects circulation in infants and young children when you’re assessing for a pulse quickly.

The other common sites aren’t as suitable in this scenario: the inner thigh is the femoral area, which isn’t used for a quick routine pulse check during BLS; the neck carotid is used more with older children and adults and can be harder to locate in small children; the wrist (radial) is also more challenging to feel in younger kids and isn’t the standard site for initial pulse assessment in a child.