A Person In Shock Needs Immediate Care
When a person is suffering from shock, it will mean that the organs and tissues of the body are not getting an adequate blood supply and are starved of oxygen. Without oxygen, cells will begin to die, which will eventually lead to tissue and organ failure and ultimately, death. There are a number of things that can cause shock such as traumatic injury, electrical shock, acute allergic reaction, or dehydration. Heatstroke and infection can also put someone into a state of shock, as can a heart attack. The nervous reaction of ‘being shocked’ is not the medical condition and is not life-threatening.
Symptoms Of Shock
A person in shock will have undergone an injury or illness that leaves the body vulnerable to shut down. Some in shock will have a pale, drawn appearance as the body’s blood is drawn to the core to protect the heart and lungs as much as possible. Most people with this condition will be sweating and the skin will feel clammy to the touch. The mental state of those still conscious will be confused and disoriented and they will probably feel dizzy. Although the person may be very thirsty, they will also usually be nauseous and may vomit. The heartbeat will be irregular and weak. Take steps immediately to care for this person, and the first thing to do is to call 911.
Caring For The Shock Victim
After calling for emergency help, the ill person must be tended to improve their chances of survival until the ambulance arrives. Place the person on the floor to begin with. Check for breathing and a pulse and if these are not present, begin CPR immediately.
To provide CPR to the shock victim, give two rescue breaths into their mouth while pinching the nose. Make sure the chest rises with each breath and make sure the breath leaves the body before administering the second one. After the rescue breath have been given, give 30 chest compressions to the middle of the chest, pushing in quickly to a depth of about 2 inches. Ignore any cracking or creaking sounds. If the person begins breathing on their own, stop CPR, otherwise continue until rescue workers arrive.
If the person is breathing, whether conscious or not, elevate the feet about 12 inches, but do not elevate the head. An unconscious person should have their head turned toward the side in case of vomiting or extreme drooling. Someone unconscious can also be rolled onto their side to prevent accidental aspiration of vomit. Do not move the head if an injury to the head, neck, or spine is suspected.
Heavy bleeding is often a cause of shock, so any visible bleeding should be managed immediately. Use a gauze pad or clean cloth to apply pressure to a bleeding wound. If there is an object stuck in the wound, leave it in place, removing it will probably only cause more bleeding. Press around the object, rather than on it, however. Shock can also be caused by internal bleeding, for which you will be able to do nothing.
Once the person has been stabilized, loosen their clothing and cover them with a blanket to keep them comfortable. While waiting for emergency help remain by the person’s side and try to keep them calm.
Is There Any Way To Avoid Shock?
In some cases, there is no way to prevent shock from occurring – a heart attack in a previously healthy person or being involved in an automobile accident would be difficult in some cases to avoid. However, being aware of any acute allergies, whether to food or medication, can help the sensitive person to avoid these. In the case of insect stings, allergy therapy can help, but carrying an autoinjector can help to prevent an allergic reaction if stung.
Electrical shock can also be avoided to a great extent by making sure all appliances are in good condition, taking care when changing fuses, and keeping away from downed power lines after a severe storm. As shock can also be produced by a lightning strike, make sure to get inside a building as soon as you hear thunder; lightning can strike far in advance of the actual storm.
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