Dr.Primo First Aid Kit

👉Introduction

Shock (not to be confused with emotional shock) is a life-threatening condition which happens when the body isn’t getting enough flow of blood.
This means that the cells don’t get enough oxygen to enable them to work properly, which can lead to damage of the vital organs like the brain and the heart.

👉Shock can be caused by anything that reduces the flow of blood, including:

heart problems, such as a heart attack, or heart failure
severe internal or external bleeding
loss of body fluids, from dehydration, diarrhoea, vomiting or burns
severe allergic reactions and severe infection
If someone has any of the conditions above, which can reduce the circulation or blood flow, they could develop shock, so you may need to treat them for this condition as well.

👉What to look for - shock

If you think somebody could be suffering from shock, there are seven key things to look for:

Paleness of the face (pallor)
Cold, clammy skin
Fast, shallow breathing
Fast, weak pulse
Yawning or sighing
Confusion
Loss of consciousness (in extreme cases)

👉What you need to do - shock

If they are showing signs of shock:

Lay them down with their head low and legs raised and supported, to increase the flow of blood to their head.
Call for medical help and say you think they are in shock, and explain what you think caused it (such as bleeding or a heart attack).
Loosen any tight clothing around the neck, chest and waist to make sure it doesn’t constrict their blood flow
Fear and pain can make shock worse, by increasing the body’s demand for oxygen, so while you wait for help to arrive, it’s important to keep them comfortable, warm and calm. Do this by covering them with a coat or blanket and comforting and reassuring them
Keep checking their breathing, pulse and level of response.
If they lose consciousness at any point, open their airway, check their breathing, and prepare to treat someone who has become unconscious.