Do not inflate to above 300 mmHg.
Individual measurements should not exceed a maximum of
2 minutes.
Between measurements there should be an interval of at le-
ast 2 minutes.
The patient must follow these basic rules when having his/her
blood pressure measured:
– sit comfortably
– not cross his/her legs
– rest his/her back and arms on the chair or another surface
– have the centre of the cuff placed on the upper arm at the
level of the heart
– relax as much as possible and keep silent while his/her
blood pressure is being measured
– be calm for 5 minutes before the first reading
The following phases are recommended in the case of auscul-
tatory measurement
– adults: phase V (K5)
– children aged 3 to 12: phase IV (K4)
– pregnant women: phase V (K5), except when sounds are
audible when the cuff is deflated: in this case phase IV (K4)
Korotkoff sounds should be used.
K5 is the point at which tones heard through the stethoscope
are no longer audible
K4 is the point at which tones heard through the stethoscope
change from a clear sound to a muffled sound.
Inscriptions:
"mmHg" is the unit in which blood pressure is measured
"shock protected" = the instrument has been tested and found
to work correctly after being dropped from a height of up to one
metre.
Fitting the Cuff:
The cuff must not be fitted over wounds as this could lead to
further injury.
Blood pressure must always be measured on the arm with the
higher pressure values.
To do this, first measure blood pressure on both arms and sub-
sequently always on the arm which produced the higher rea-
ding.
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