For example, if you start counting at the “2” mark, the hand will have passed 30 seconds at the “8” marker, or if you start at 12, 30 sec. will be at 6. Stop counting beats when the second hand reaches the marker and 30 seconds have elapsed. If you would like to be even more accurate (because the pulse is not always completely regular), you may count beats for 1 minute. [5] X Research source
For example, if you counted your pulse at 36 beats over 30 seconds, your pulse would be 72 because 36beats/30seconds = 72beats/60seconds. If, for some reason, you counted beats for only 15 seconds (as is sometimes done in moving ambulances because taking pulses is a PAIN in there), you would need to multiply by 4 as 15 x 4 = 60 = bpm. [6] X Research source
