Immediate Life Support (ILS)- Healthcare
Course Content
- Course Introduction
- Initial Care and PPE
- Pre-shift checks
- Privacy and Dignity
- Chain of communication
- When communication breaks down
- Chain of infection and universal precautions
- How to use gloves
- Scene safety
- Primary Survey
- Chain of Survival
- Respiration and Breathing
- Taking the temperature - medical settings
- Pulse Points
- Blood pressure
- Recovery Position
- Infant Recovery Position
- The deteriorating patient and NEWS2
- ABCDE Approach
- Heart Rhythms
- Airway Management
- ECG's
- Pulse Oximetry
- Drugs and Medications
- CPR - Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
- First Aid vs BLS Healthcare Professionals
- When to call for assistance
- Advanced CPR Overview
- CPR Introduction
- Bag Valve Masks
- Pocket Mask - Advanced
- CPR Breaths
- Compression only CPR
- CPR Seizures and agonal gasps
- Using an AED
- AED Pad Placement
- CPR Cycle - 1 person
- Effective CPR
- Improving compressions
- Bystander CPR and females
- The Precordial thump
- Improving breaths
- The hospital resuscitation team
- Post CPR
- Paediatric CPR overview
- Child CPR for Healthcare Professionals
- Infant CPR practical (first aid guidelines)
- Infant CPR for Health Professionals
- Thumb use infant CPR
- Newborn CPR for BLS Healthcare Professionals
- Defibrillation
- Oxygen
- When Oxygen is Used
- Hazards of using oxygen
- Contra Indications Of Oxygen
- Hypoxia
- Storage Of Oxygen
- Transport of Cylinders
- Standard oxygen cylinder
- PIN INDEX cylinder
- Oxygen Regulators
- BOC Oxygen Kit
- How long does an Oxygen cylinder last?
- Oxygen Giving Set
- Venturi Mask
- Non Rebreather mask
- Nasal Cannula
- CPR Scenarios
- DNR's and When to Stop Resuscitation
- Choking
- ILS Summary
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Get StartedWhen we're doing first aid, we look at someone's pulse. What we're going to do now is have a look at the different places on the body that you can detect a pulse. Now looking at the pulse points within the body, where can you detect a pulse on somebody? Your primary pulse point would be your radial pulse, which is found on your wrist just below your thumb. You should be able to feel your own pulse, so that would be your starting point. Then working up your arm you have a brachial pulse. And then you also have one into the neck as well, which is your carotid pulse. Other pulses that you are able to detect would be your femoral pulses, which is just to where your leg and groin bend. You also have another pulse behind the knee, which is your popliteal pulse. And then on top of the foot is your pedal pulse. And you should be able to feel all of your own pulses. When you take your pulses, obviously you're going to use one hand. The only pulse you would ever use... You would never use two hands, is the carotid. You would only ever feel one side at one time. And what sort of things are you feeling for? You're feeling to actually... Can you actually feel the pulse pass through underneath your fingers? And you'll feel it just bounce slowly under your fingers. And If you can't find it, just have a fiddle around. You will eventually find it. Just slight pressure on the wrist. If you press too deep, obviously, it will just feel as though you can't feel anything. Just come off very slightly. You will find it. You just have to have a dig around and find it in there. Will the pulse points... Will that indicate blood pressure at all? If you lost a pulse point in a certain part of the body? Yes. Normally the radial pulse is... When somebody becomes unwell, the body is incredibly clever and it will protect the vital organs, so it will protect the brain, the heart, and all the internal organs. When you become unwell, you will lose what's called your peripheral pulses, so you'll lose your radial pulse, you will lose your pedal pulse, and then you'll slowly lose the pulses and it this will protect the main area of the body. Your carotid pulse you should never lose unless of course you have a cardiac arrest or you die.
Finding Pulse Points on the Body
Primary Pulse Point: Radial Pulse
The main pulse point to locate is the radial pulse:
- Location: It's found on your wrist, just below your thumb.
- Technique: Use two fingers with gentle pressure to detect it.
- Sensation: You'll feel it pulsate against your fingers.
- Note: Avoid using your thumb and use only one hand.
Additional Pulse Points
Other pulse points on the body include:
- Brachial Pulse: Located further up your arm.
- Carotid Pulse: Found on your neck.
- Femoral Pulse: Situated where your leg and groin bend.
- Popliteal Pulse: Detectable behind your knee.
- Pedal Pulse: On top of the foot.
Pulse as a Health Indicator
Your pulse can indicate your health:
If you're unwell:
- You may lose peripheral pulses, starting with the radial pulse and pedal pulse.
- This protects the vital areas of your body.
- Carotid pulse loss occurs in cases of cardiac arrest or death.