Stethoscope & Blood Pressure Cuff
We use a stethoscope (A) to listen to a patient’s lungs during breathing, listen to a patient’s abdomen, and to check blood pressure. A stethoscope transmits sound waves received at the drum, through the tubes, to the earpieces.
We use a blood pressure cuff (B), a sphygmomanometer in technical terms, to check a patient’s blood pressure. It wraps around the patient’s arm and is filled with air using the black bulb at the end. Then, the air is removed slowly. The stethoscope is placed on the artery just below the cuff to listen for a heart beat. When the EMT hears the first beat, he records the number on the dial. This is the Systolic reading (the top number). Next, the EMT listens until he cannot hear the pulse anymore, then records the number off of the dial. This is the Diastolic reading (the bottom number).
Both the ambulance and our jump bag are stocked with a BP cuff and stethoscope.
Costs (2004 Prices)
Stethoscope – $15
BP Cuff – $20
