Now you must learn how to take the pulse. Gently lay the tips of your fingers along the edge of the patient’s wrist near the thumb. Press just firmly enough to feel the poundings pulse under the tips of your fingers. Note the quality of the pulse, whether it feels weak or strong.

All of this is important to the doctor. If you have a watch with a second hand, count the pulse for least one minute and write down. The normal pulse in an adult should be somewhere between 70 and 90 per minute. However, in a fever, it may go up to 120 or more. The normal pulse in some young children may be 100.