Is the Thumb a Finger?

By jamie

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7. Finding a Pulse

If somebody appears to be unconscious, one of the first things that we do is look for a pulse. Finding a pulse will tell us that their heart is still beating, which is obviously a good sign. Not being able to find a pulse is a clear sign that they are in trouble, and emergency medical assistance is required.

One common way to look for a pulse is to place two fingers where arteries are located on the neck. Another common method is to look for a pulse in the thumb as they are served by the princeps pollicis artery. If you know what you are looking for, you should hopefully be able to feel the pulse beating as the blood is pumped through the artery.

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