Which pulse site is the recommended site to palpate for a pulse in an infant during resuscitation?

• A. Brachial
• B. Carotid
• C. Radial
• D. Femoral

Answer: (A)

When checking a pulse during infant resuscitation, you want a site that is quick and reliable without delaying chest compressions. The brachial pulse, felt on the inner upper arm, is easiest to locate in an infant who is supine and allows you to assess perfusion efficiently with minimal movement. If you can’t feel a pulse at the brachial site within about 10 seconds, you should begin chest compressions. Other sites are less practical in infants: the carotid is deeper and harder to assess accurately in a small neck, radial pulses are typically absent or unreliable in infants, and the femoral pulse is harder to access quickly.