Ep 10: Proof of Life – Vital Signs & Sphygmomanometer Practice

Vital signs are the foundation of every patient assessment—and this week, the crew gets hands-on with the “proof of life.” Mike and Max break down the five core vitals (pulse, respirations, skin, pupils, and blood pressure), plus the “bonus” indicators like oxygen saturation and blood glucose.

With Jonathan out this week, the guys tackle class solo—sharing lessons from the field, stories of testing on family members, and why getting an accurate manual blood pressure is harder than it looks. They also spotlight the American Heart Association in this episode’s community feature and close out with a Tools of the Trade segment on the blood pressure cuff (sphygmomanometer)—the deceptively simple tool every EMT has to master.

Episode Breakdown

00:37 – Celebrating 10 episodes (and one secret pilot)

02:20 – Vital signs: the “proof of life” and what they tell us

05:00 – Spotlight: The American Heart Association ❤️

09:00 – Medical Term of the Week: Baseline

13:20 – Tracking patient trends and reassessments

15:10 – The five core vital signs (and the two bonus ones)

19:00 – Pulse: where to find it and what it tells you

40:00 – Respirations: counting breaths and recognizing effort

43:30 – Skin: “pink, warm, and dry” vs. pale, cool, and clammy

47:00 – Pupils: PERRL, penlights, and what dilation reveals

51:00 – Blood pressure: manual technique and practice stories

1:15:00 – Manual vs. automatic cuffs + pro tips from class

1:21:00 – Tools of the Trade: Blood Pressure Cuff (Sphygmomanometer)

1:22:00 – Student Tip of the Week: Build your own vitals kit

1:29:00 – Closing thoughts & Jonathan appreciation

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⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and storytelling purposes only. It is not medical advice or official EMT training. Always follow your accredited instructors and local protocols.

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