While assessing the carotid and radial pulse in your unresponsive patient, you determine that the carotid pulse is weak and rapid, and the peripheral pulses are absent. What other clinical assessment finding would you expect to be present?

Checking the central and peripheral pulses in the unresponsive patient will give the paramedic a rough estimate of peripheral perfusion. In this instance, where there is no peripheral pulse and a weak central pulse, the inference can be made that there is poor peripheral perfusion. Another expected finding in this patient then would be cool and pale skin from the diminished peripheral blood flow.