When I squeeze the bulb to inflate the blood pressure cuff, the bulb itself doesn’t compress. What is wrong?

It is likely that the air valve on your cuff is jammed. There are two issues that may contribute to this problem; either the valve has become clogged with dust or debris, or an internal component called the ‘slit stopper’ has become bound from an extended lack of use. In order to correct this problem, first examine the air valve closely and check for dust or debris that may be clogging it and preventing air from passing through. You will need to remove the air valve from the bulb and valve assembly to conduct this examination. Be sure to clear out any obvious obstructions to the air flow. (Note: You may use tweezers or any pointed implement to remove such obstructions.)

If the air valve appears to be free of obstructions and you have not used your blood pressure cuff for some time, it is likely that the ‘slit stopper’ has become bound. In order to clear this problem, ensure that the air valve is properly attached to the bulb and valve assembly. (Note: It is recommended that your bulb and valve not be connected to the rest of your blood pressure device while correcting this problem.) Take the bulb and valve assembly in both hands and (with the valve CLOSED) quickly apply swift and rapid pressure to the bulb. This will force air into the valve at high pressure and cause the slit stopper to ‘pop’ open again. Once this type of jam has been cleared, it is unlikely that it will occur again unless your blood pressure device is left unused for an extended period of time.