Gather a blood pressure cuff, stethoscope, and a chair with arm support
Have the person rest quietly for 5 minutes
Seat the person with back supported, feet flat on the floor, and legs uncrossed
Support the arm at heart level with the palm facing up
Choose the correct cuff size
Wrap the cuff snugly around the upper arm, about 1 inch above the elbow crease
Locate the brachial artery inside the elbow
Place the stethoscope over the brachial artery
Close the valve on the inflation bulb
Inflate the cuff until the pulse disappears, then 20 to 30 mmHg higher
Slowly deflate the cuff at about 2 to 3 mmHg per second
Note the first tapping sound as systolic pressure
Note the point where the sound disappears as diastolic pressure
Record the reading as systolic over diastolic
Wait 1 to 2 minutes before repeating if needed
Measure on the same arm for consistency