EMS Students Master Vital Signs: A Hands-On STEM Experience

EMS students at Area 31 are diving deep into essential healthcare skills by learning how to accurately take vital signs, a critical part of patient assessment. These skills include measuring blood pressure, pulse, respiration rate, and body temperature.

Blood pressure measurement involves understanding oscillometric techniques, in which students learn to detect changes in arterial vibrations, as well as palpation methods to feel the pulse pressure. Both require precision and an understanding of human physiology and physics.

Taking accurate pulse and respiratory rates helps students explore biology as they count beats and breaths per minute to assess the patient’s health status. Measuring body temperature introduces them to thermodynamics, illustrating how heat transfer reflects the body’s condition.

Through these hands-on experiences, students apply scientific observation, data collection, and critical thinking—core STEM skills that prepare them for future careers in healthcare and beyond.