Blood pressure cuffs
Readings should be accurate when taking a patient’s blood pressure. So make sure that the blood pressure cuffs you are using are based on the size of the patient’s upper extremity. Measure around the bicep area to determine what size of cuff to use. Blood pressure cuffs come in a variety of sizes ranging from large adult, adult, pediatric and newborn.
You’ll need a stethoscope if you buy a cuff that does not have it incorporated. When taking a blood pressure reading, never inflate a cuff over 220 mm/Hg to avoid bruising the skin. Also, remember to let all pressure out of the cuff before re-inflating when doing a second reading. Avoid false high readings by encouraging the patient to relax and sit for 5-10 minutes before doing the BP reading.