Editing First aid (section)

=== Checking skills ===
They evaluate the condition of the victim,<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=American Red Cross |title=CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers |year=2016 |edition=2nd}}</ref> first attending to the main threats for life.

The preferred initial way of checking consist of asking, commonly by touching the patient in one of his shoulders and shouting something, such as: "can you hear me?"

In some cases, the victim has a wound that bleeds abundantly, which requires its own additional treatment to stop the blood loss (usually, it would begin by keeping the wound pressed).

If the patient does not react, the heartbeats can be checked in the carotid pulse: placing two fingers on any side of the neck (on the left or the right side), near his head. In cases where checking the carotid pulse is impossible, heartbeats can be perceived in the radial pulse: placing two fingers on a wrist, under the part of the thumb, and applying moderate pressure. Breathing can also be checked additionally, placing an ear on the mouth and, at the same time, watching the chest rising by the effect of the air. It is recommended not to waste too much time of first aid in checking (professional rescuers are taught to take 10 seconds in it).

{{Gallery|File:Carotidian_pulse_(clear).jpg|Checking of heartbeats in the carotid pulse.<br/>This is usually the fastest method of checking the patient's condition.|File:Pulse2.jpg|Verification of heartbeats in the radial pulse, pressing moderately on a wrist, under the part of the thumb.|File:Checking_respiration3.jpg|Check of patient's breathing, listening the air inside of the mouth and watching the chest swelling.|width=200|height=200|align=center|title=Check of patient's condition}}