Shock can be caused by anything that reduces the flow of blood, such as:
severe internal or external bleeding
heart problems, such as a heart attack, or heart failure
loss of body fluids, from dehydration, diarrhoea, vomiting, or burns
severe allergic reactions and overwhelming infection (septic shock)
spinal cord injury.
Signs and symptoms
Look for:
pale skin, which may be cold and clammy
sweating
fast pulse - as shock gets worse
fast, shallow breathing
a weak pulse
grey blue skin, especially inside the lips
nausea and possible vomiting - as the brains oxygen supply decreases
restlessness and aggressive behaviour
yawning and gasping for air
the casualty could become unresponsive.
What to do
First, treat any cause of shock that you can see or that you have identified from the primary survey, such as severe bleeding.
Then help the casualty to lie down. Raise the casualty’s legs, supporting them on a chair, as this will help to improve the blood supply to their vital organs.
If available, lay them down on a rug or blanket to protect them from the cold.
Call 999 or 112 for emergency help and tell ambulance control you think they are in shock. If possible, explain what you think caused it.
Loosen any tight clothing around the neck, chest, and waist to make sure it doesn’t constrict their blood flow.
While waiting for help to arrive, cover them with a coat or blanket to help keep them warm.
Remember, fear and pain can make shock worse by increasing the body’s demand for oxygen, so try to reassure the casualty and keep them calm if you can.
Monitor their level of response.
If they become unresponsive at any point, prepare to treat an unresponsive casualty.
Use the primary survey to quickly assess the situation and check the casualty for injuries or conditions that could be immediately life threatening. Find out what to do.
Severe bleeding
When bleeding is severe, it can be dramatic and distressing. Find out what to do.
How to do CPR on an adult
If an adult is unresponsive and not breathing normally, you need to call 999 or 112 for emergency help and start CPR straight away. Learn what to do.
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