Final answer:
While checking for a patient's pulse and proper breathing, health professionals use tools like a pulse oximeter and a stethoscope. Symptoms such as difficulty breathing, abnormal lung sounds, and cyanosis can indicate respiratory distress or conditions like pneumonia.
Step-by-step explanation:
You open the patient's airway and look, listen, and feel for breathing while simultaneously checking for a pulse. The patient has a pulse but is not breathing properly.
During the physical examination, it is crucial to observe for signs of respiratory distress or dysfunction. Tools such as a pulse oximeter will help determine the oxygen levels in the patient's blood, indicating if there is hypoxemia. A clinician may also use a stethoscope to listen for abnormal heart and lung sounds, like a crackling sound during breathing which can be indicative of conditions such as pneumonia. Additionally, the presence of abnormal colored mucus and findings on a chest radiograph can further assist in diagnosis.
If a loved one appears to be choking, it's important to look for signs like inability to speak, labored breathing, gasping, wheezing, clutching at the throat, and skin turning blue due to lack of oxygen, which if not addressed promptly can lead to unconsciousness.