Heart Rate
Heart rate measures heartbeats per minute and varies by age.
Heart rate is the number of times the heart beats per minute (bpm). It reflects how quickly the heart is pumping blood around the body and can change with activity, stress, illness, or rest. Monitoring heart rate can provide important clues about a person’s overall health and circulatory status, which is particularly relevant in first aid and emergency care.
Normal resting heart rates vary depending on age:
During sleep, heart rate may be lower, while exercise, fever, stress, or pain can cause it to rise. Consistently high (tachycardia) or low (bradycardia) heart rates outside the normal range can indicate an underlying medical issue, especially if accompanied by symptoms such as dizziness, chest pain, fainting, or shortness of breath.
In first aid, heart rate is commonly assessed using the pulse, which can be felt at the wrist (radial artery), neck (carotid artery), or chest. It is typically counted for 30 seconds and multiplied by two to calculate beats per minute. Abnormal heart rates in the context of illness or injury should prompt urgent medical assessment, and if the person becomes unresponsive or stops breathing, first aiders should begin CPR and call 000 immediately.
Measure heart rate by checking the pulse at the wrist, neck, or chest.
Count beats for 30 seconds and multiply by two for beats per minute (bpm).
Compare to age-appropriate normal ranges.
Seek medical advice for unusually high or low rates.
In an emergency, call 000 if the person is unwell or unconscious.
Heart rate is the number of times the heart beats per minute. Normal resting heart rates differ by age, with infants and children naturally having faster heart rates than adults.