Recognizing and Responding to Shock: A First Aid Guide

Shock is a condition caused by traumatic injuries or serious illness. Shock deprives the body's tissues of essential oxygenated blood and the results may be irreversible. Prompt treatment can prevent shock or minimize its effects.

Things You'll Need

• Evacuation Plan
• Wilderness First Aid Classes
• First Aid Kits
• Watches With Second Hands
• Evacuation Insurance
• Notebooks
• Pens

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Instructions

Treat for Shock

• 1

  Treat all injured persons for shock before assessing for shock (see "How to Treat for Shock").

Assess for Severe Shock

• 2

  Observe the injured person's temperament: Is he or she confused or disoriented? If so, assume severe shock.

• 3

  Evaluate the injured person's level of consciousness: Is he or she unconscious or unresponsive? If so, assume severe shock (see "How to Measure Level of Consciousness").

• 4

  Take the person's pulse: Is it irregular or increasing progressively? If so, assume severe shock (see "How to Measure Heart Rate").

• 5

  If none of the above signs of severe shock are confirmed, check for earlier stages of shock using the following steps.

Assess for Early Signs of Shock

• 6

  Look at and feel the injured person's skin: Is he or she pale and clammy, first in the extremities and then in the trunk? If so, assume shock.

• 7

  Take the injured person's pulse: Is it rapid, thready or irregular? If so, assume shock (see "How to Measure Heart Rate").

• 8

  Take the injured person's respiratory rate: Is it shallow or rapid? If either, assume shock (see "How to Measure Respiratory Rate").

• 9

  Observe the injured person's temperament: Is he or she restless, agitated or irritable? If so, assume shock.

• 10

  Ask the injured person how he or she feels. Any complaints of thirst or nausea? If so, assume shock.

• 11

  Continue rechecking for shock and evacuate immediately if any the above signs are present.