1. Principles of Health Science
Technical Skills
Principles of Health Science

2. Body temperature
2. Routes for measuring temperature and their normal ranges
Aural – (tympanic) F, 370 C
Axillary - (armpit) F & C
Oral – (mouth) F & C
Rectal (you know where) F & C

3. 1. Factors affecting temperature
Environment
Exercise
Disease
Time of day? Highest and lowest?

4. Types of thermometers
Digital
Electronic
Tympanic
Temporal

5. Always record site that temperature was took
Sites used depends on age and patient needs
No thermometers in mouth for h/o seizures
No thermometers rectally for h/o heart disease
No thermometers orally for patients on a ventilator
Least accurate site is axillary

6. High and Low Body Temp Hyperthermia-elevated body temperature
99.5–100.9 °F
Hypothermia-body's core temperature drops below that required for normal body functions
Less than 95.0 °F

7. Pulse 60-100 Normal range of pulse rates for adult is
Bradycardia is less than 60 beats/minute
Tachycardia is more than 100 beats/minute
Rhythm - regular and irregular
Volume - weak, strong, or thready

8. Most commonly used site is radial (wrist)
Pulse and respirations usually counted together for one min.

9. Respiration = inspiration and expiration
Normal range of respiratory rate for adults is /minute
Rate
Regular and irregular
Shallow, deep, and labored
Sounds

10. Factors affecting pulse and respirations
Activity
Disease
Drugs and alcohol
Blood oxygen levels
Brain and spinal abnormality

11. Procedure for measuring and recording pulse/respiration
Procedure for measuring and recording radial pulse

12. Blood pressure
Measure of the force of the blood against walls of the arteries.
a. Systolic
b. Diastolic

13. Normal BP for adults is less than
Top number (first loud sound)
Bottom Number (last sound heard)
Hypertension – systolic greater than
140, diastolic greater than 90
Hypotension – systolic less than 90, diastolic less than 60

14. Risk factors for hypertension
•Age.
•Race. ... (African American males)
•Family history. ...
•Being overweight or obese. ...
•Not being physically active. ...
•Using tobacco. ...
•Too much salt (sodium) in your diet. ...

15. Sphygmomanometers record BP in millimeters (mm) of mercury (Hg)
a. Aneroid
Electronic
Wrote as a fraction 120/80

16. Heart attack warning signs
Discomfort in chest (fullness, squeezing feeling) lasting more than a few minutes
Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort
Cold sweat, nausea, or lightheadedness

17. Stroke warning signs; sudden onset of:
Numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg, especially on one side of body
Confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
Trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
Severe headache with no known cause
Act FAST
Face Arm Speech Time