Shock

Shock is cause be inadequate blood flow to vital organs and tissues. If not prevented or treated in its early stages, can lead to death. Recognition is vital. Even simple fainting may be a sign of shock, electrolyte imbalance or neurological disorder (stoke). See below.

Causes:

• • Shock due to low blood volume (hypovolemic):

    • 1. Blood loss, external or internal (lacerations, trauma, fractured hip).

      2. Dehydration.

  • Shock due to poor pumping by the heart(cardiogenic):

• • • 1. Heart attack.

      2. Heart failure.

      3. Change in heart rate.

• • Shock due to poor tension in blood vessels (neurologic).

• • • 1. Anaphylactic shock.  

      2. Severe infection.

      3. Spinal Injury.

Symptoms and Signs:

1. Skin is deathly pale, white or gray (ashen)

   1. Skin is cool to touch and may be sweating ("clammy" skin).

2. Short of breath

• 1. Distant, stare off into space, not no respond to pain of realize their injuries  

  2. Serious signs:

     • LOC: Restless, anxious, disoriented

     • RR:   Rapid, shallow

     • HR  : Rapid, weak

     • Skin: pale, cool, clammy, poor capillary refill

     • Often nausea and vomiting, may collapse

Treatment: 

    Raising the legs can be helpful in after simple faint, minor injury, external blood loss has been controlled or during CPR.   DO NOT RAISE LEGS IF PATIENT IS SUFFERING FROM: HEART ATTACK, INTERNAL INJURIES, SUSPECTED HEAD OR SPINAL INJURY, DIFFICULTY BREATHING, SPLINTED BROKEN LEG, SNAKE BITES.