Shock
Shock is the reaction of the body to lack of oxygen. When the body recognizes that not enough oxygenated blood is flowing through the blood vessels, it reduces the blood flow to the skin, arms and legs as it attempts to supply sufficient blood to the vital organs
The three main causes of shock are:
Heart failure – insufficient oxygenated blood being circulated due to heart pump failing
Fluid failure - circulating blood lost due to internal / external bleeding or burns
Blood-vessel failure – due to spinal injury or an allergic reaction. For example, blood vessels below the injury site dilate (get bigger) so there is not enough blood to fill the system or in reaction to a substance e.g. penicillin
Signs
- Tissue/skin colour is pale
- Moist sweaty (cool) skin
- Rapid weak pulse
- Shivering
- Breathing may be shallow, gasping or noisy
- May become confused and/or distressed
- Symptoms
- Thirst
- Anxiety
- Nausea
Treatment
- Get help/ DIAL EMERGENCY
- SkillsforLife cycle is the primary treatment for shock
- DO NOT give food or drink to the patient or allow to smoke
- Maintain body temperature, as near normal temperature as possible - Do not overheat May need a blanket both under and over patient e.g. on hot tarseal or icy ground
- Raise the legs 20 – 30 cms (8 – 12 inches) if you do not suspect head / spinal / heart problems
- Reassure and comfort patient continuously
We can also suffer shock due to fear, pain, fright or overheating. This is where the arteries dilate (get bigger) resulting in the same amount of blood flow not reaching all the circumference of the arteries, causing a lack of oxygen to the body tissues. Not life-threatening. If uninjured, walking for a few hundred metres will help the arteries return to normal size
Children may suffer shock when witnessing an accident.
They commonly react in one of two ways:
- Absorbing curiosity
- Numb / silent with fear
Remove uninjured children from the scene if possible
Fainting Is a brief loss of consciousness and lasts for only a few seconds. Once lying down the patient recovers rapidly
If a fainting patient has not regained consciousness within one minute Get Help / DIAL EMERGENCY
For comprehensive first aid information please refer to the MediTrain First Aid Manual or complete a MediTrain First Aid training course.
This First Aid tip is just one example of the contents of the SkillsforLife First Aid Manual.