When checking a casualty quality of distal circulation you are doing what?

Answer 1

To check distal circulation you are checking circulation in the extremities. You can apply pressure on the fingernails and toenails to see how quickly the blood returns which can supply clues as to the quality of circulation. This can be important in a few different scenarios. First, if you have finished dealing with any life-threatening injuries by performing CPR or any other treatments, you can now see if the victim's condition is improving or worsening by comparing the distal circulation at different intervals. Second, if you have tied a bandage over a wound on say the arm, checking the distal circulation can tell you if you have tied the bandage too tight. Third, if someone is dark-skinned you can check the fingernails for signs of circulation and to see if skin colour is normal (as opposed to yellow, blue, ashen, red).