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Treating for Shock
The following material may assist you in treating a victim for shock.
This information is derived from "Advanced First Aid & Emergency Care," 2nd
edition, by the American Red Cross. To obtain a copy of this book and to
take instruction in first aid, please contact the local office of the
American Red Cross. They are listed in the white pages of your telephone
book.
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Define what is "shock"
Shock is a condition resulting from a depressed state of many
vital body functions. It can threaten life even though the injuries or
conditions that caused the depression may not otherwise be fatal. The
body's vital functions are depressed when there is a loss of blood
volume, a reduced rate of blood flow or an insufficient supply of
oxygen. Injury-related shock, commonly referred to as traumatic shock,
is decidedly different from electric shock, insulin shock, and other
special forms of shock.
The degrees of shock is increased by abnormal changes in body
temperature, by poor resistance of the victim to stress, by pain, by
rough handling and by delay in treatment.
What are the causes of shock?
Shock may be caused by severe injuries of all types - hemorrhage,
loss of blood plasma in burns, muscle swelling, loss of body fluids
other than blood (as in prolonged vomiting and dysentery), by
infection, by heart attack or stroke, by perforation of a stomach
ulcer, by rupture of a tubal pregnancy, by anaphylaxis or by poisoning
involving chemicals, gases, alcohol or drugs. Shock also results from
lack of oxygen caused by obstruction of air passages or injury to the
respiratory system.
What are the EARLY stages and signs of shock?
In the early stages of shock, the body compensates for a
decreased blood flow to the tissues by constricting the blood vessels
in the skin, soft tissues and skeletal muscles. Their constriction
causes an emergency redistribution of blood flow to the heart, brain
and other vital organs and may lead to the following signs:
a. Pale (or bluish) skin, cold to the touch and possibly moist and
clammy. In the case of victims with dark skin pigmentation, it
may be necessary to rely primarily on the color of the mucous
membranes on the inside of the mouth, on the inside of the
eyelids or in the fingernail or toenail beds.
b. Weakness.
c. Rapid pulse (usually over 100 beats per minute or over about 17
beats in 10 seconds), often too faint (due to decreased blood
pressure) to be felt at the wrist but perceptible in the carotid
artery at the side of the neck or in the femoral artery near the
groin.
d. Increased rate of breathing, possibly shallow, possibly deep and
irregular. If there has been an injury to the chest or abdomen,
breathing will almost certainly be shallow because of the pain
involved in breathing deeply. A person in shock from hemorrhage
may be restless and anxious (early signs of lack of oxygen),
thrashing about and complaining of severe thirst and he may vomit
or retch from nausea.
What are the LATE stages and signs of shock?
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