Normal Vital Signs Guidelines for EMS

Flashcards for EMS vital sign guidelines

Normal respiratory rate for Adults (19+ years)

12 to 20 breaths/min

Normal respiratory rate for Adolescents (12-18 years)

12 to 20 breaths/min

Normal respiratory rate for School age children (6-12 years)

15 to 20 breaths/min

Normal respiratory rate for Preschool age children (3-6 years)

20 to 25 breaths/min

Normal respiratory rate for Toddlers (1-3 years)

20 to 30 breaths/min

Normal respiratory rate for Infants (1 month - 1 year)

25 to 50 breaths/min

Normal respiratory rate for Neonates (0-1 month)

30 to 60 breaths/min

Normal pulse rate for Adults (19+ years)

60 to 100 beats/min

Normal pulse rate for Adolescents (12-18 years)

60 to 100 beats/min

Normal pulse rate for School age children (6-12 years)

70 to 120 beats/min

Normal pulse rate for Preschool age children (3-6 years)

80 to 140 beats/min

Normal pulse rate for Toddlers (1-3 years)

90 to 150 beats/min

Normal pulse rate for Infants (1 month - 1 year)

100 to 160 beats/min

Normal pulse rate for Neonates (0-1 month)

100 to 180 beats/min

Normal blood pressure for Adults (19+ years)

90 to 130 mmHg (systolic) / 60 to 90 mmHg (diastolic)

Normal blood pressure for Adolescents (12-18 years)

90 to 110 mmHg (systolic) / 64 to 83 mmHg (diastolic)

Normal blood pressure for School age children (6-12 years)

80 to 110 mmHg (systolic) / 57 to 76 mmHg (diastolic)

Normal blood pressure for Preschool age children (3-6 years)

80 to 100 mmHg (systolic) / 46 to 72 mmHg (diastolic)

Normal blood pressure for Toddlers (1-3 years)

80 to 100 mmHg (systolic) / 42 to 63 mmHg (diastolic)

Normal blood pressure for Infants (1 month - 1 year)

70 to 95 mmHg (systolic) / 37 to 56 mmHg (diastolic)

Normal blood pressure for Neonates (0-1 month)

50 to 70 mmHg (systolic) / 35 to 53 mmHg (diastolic)

Normal SpO2 level

95 to 100%

Snoring Indication

Sleeping, unconscious patient tongue occluding the airway, head injury

Gurgling Indication

Foreign body airway obstruction, vomit, blood, secretions, drowning

Stridor Indication

Anaphylaxis, croup, epiglottitis, foreign body airway obstruction, trauma

Wheezing Indication

Anaphylaxis, asthma, bronchitis, COPD (emphysema and/or chronic bronchitis), pneumonia

Rhonchi Indication

Asthma, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, cystic fibrosis

Crackles (Rales) Indication

CHF (pulmonary edema), pleural effusion, pneumonia

Diminished or Absent Lung Sounds Indication

Anaphylaxis, asthma, COPD, pneumonia, foreign body airway obstruction, pneumothorax, tension pneumothorax, hemothorax, pulmonary contusion

Pleural rub Indication

Pleural effusion, pleurisy, chest trauma, pulmonary embolism, lung cancer, pneumonia

Snoring (Sound/Location/Description)

Upper respiratory sound/ Indicative of a partial upper airway obstruction

Gurgling (Sound/Location/Description)

Upper respiratory sound/ A hollow bubbling sound

Stridor (Sound/Location/Description)

Upper respiratory sound/ A high-pitched sound heard on inspiration as air tries to pass through an obstruction in the upper airway

Wheezing (Sound/Location/Description)

Lower respiratory sound/ A high-pitched

whistling resulting from constriction and/or inflammation

Rhonchi (Sound/Location/Description)

Lower respiratory sound/ Low-pitched rattling sounds caused by secretions or mucus in the large airway

Crackles/Rales (Sound/Location/Description)

Lower respiratory sound/ The sound of air trying to pass through fluid in the alveoli

Diminished or Absent Lung Sounds:

Lower respiratory finding/ can occur when breathing is reduced or absent.

Pleural rub ()

Lower respiratory/ Asqueaking or grating sound caused by the pleuralliningrubbingtogether.