In emergencies:
If the patient’s condition is stable, you should reassess their vital signs every 15 minutes until treatment, to ensure they are not in shock.
If the patient’s condition is unstable, reassess their vital signs every 5 minutes, and observe trends.
1. Pulse
Adults, 10+ years old: 60-100 BPM
2-10 years old: 60-140 BPM
3 months- 2 years old: 100-190 BPM
Up to 3 months old: 85-205 BPM
2. Blood Pressure (Systolic/Diastolic)
Systolic pressure represents the maximum force that is exerted on the arteries with every heart beat.
Diastolic pressure is the minimum pressure exerted on arteries between every heart beat.
Adults: 120/80 mmHg
3. Respiration Rate (Breaths Per Minute)
Adults, 18+ years old: 12-20 breaths/min.
Adolescents, 13-18 years old: 12-16 breaths/min.
6-12 years old: 18-30 breaths/min.
4-5 years old: 22-34 breaths/min.
Toddlers, 1-3 years old: 24-40 breaths/min.
Infants, birth-1-year-old: 30-60 breaths/min.
4. Pupil Reactivity to Light
Normal: bilaterally equal, round, and reactive to light.
– Pupils should always be equal, even if light is only shone in one eye.
– Unequal pupils indicate a head injury.
– Dilated pupils indicate an opioid overdose.
– Pinpoint pupils indicate an alcohol overdose.
5. Skin Condition
Normal skin: pink, dry, and warm
– Yellow skin usually indicates jaundice.
– Blue skin, or cyanosis, indicates hypoxia.
– Excessive sweat, diaphoresis, can indicate anxiety or the struggle to maintain homeostasis.
6. Body Temperature
A healthy human’s body temperature is about 98.6 degrees Fahrenheight (37 degrees Celsius).
– Infants and elderly people are most prone to temperature changes, because of unstable regulatory mechanisms.
– Excessive exposure to heat or cold can also alter the body’s core temperature.
7. Capillary Refill
Cap. refill is measured by pressing a person’s nail bed until it turns white.
The normal blood refill time is 2 seconds or less.
8. Blood Glucose Level
The normal Blood Glucose Level is between 70 to 99 mg/dL. A higher measure could indicate diabetes.
9. SpO2/Pulse Oximetry
The normal range for a pulse ox, or saturation of oxygen in the blood, is 95 percent or higher. A consistently lower reading could indicate a chronic breathing difficulty such as COPD.
