How often should you check the pulse and breathing of a patient in respiratory arrest?

In cases of respiratory arrest, checking the pulse and breathing at regular intervals is crucial to assess the effectiveness of the provided care and to determine if the patient requires further intervention, such as CPR or advanced life support measures. The recommended guideline to check the pulse and breathing is every 2 minutes. This timeframe allows enough time to determine if spontaneous circulation has returned or if additional life-saving measures are needed.

Checking too frequently, such as every minute, may not provide a sufficient interval to observe any changes in the patient's condition, while longer intervals, such as 5 or 10 minutes, risk delaying critical interventions that could be life-saving. Therefore, a 2-minute interval strikes a balance, ensuring that the patient is monitored effectively without prolonging the absence of necessary actions.