Signs of shock include paleness and cold sweats.
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When Do You Speak Of Shock?
Shock is a life-threatening condition that can arise from various causes such as blood loss, an allergic reaction, or heart problems.
It is characterized by a disproportion between the amount of oxygen available and the amount required in the body, usually resulting from circulatory failure. In other words: the body needs more oxygen than it can get. As a result of the lack of oxygen, the body tries to concentrate on supplying the essential organs – which can have fatal consequences for other organs and, if it lasts for a long time, for the whole organism.
What Symptoms Can Indicate Shock?
- The person’s skin is pale and sweaty. Caution: In the case of septic-toxic shock (see below), the skin is often warm and well supplied with blood.
- The pulse is fast and can only be felt weakly (rapid pulse due to a fast heartbeat: tachycardia, weak pulse due to low blood pressure: hypotension )
- Sometimes people are trembling or very restless and anxious.
How Do I Provide First Aid After Calling The Emergency Services?
- Stop visible bleeding.
- Calm the person down, speak well.
- Keep the patient warm. Place it on a blanket or clothing and cover it.
- Put the patient in shock – if nothing speaks against it (e.g., suspected heart attack or other illnesses from the list below): the upper body flat on the floor, the legs raised by about 30 degrees—slide pillows or other items under your legs to keep them in place.
- Stay with the patient and check your pulse and breathing. If the patient passes out, you should place them on their side in a stable position. If breathing or circulation stops, begin resuscitation immediately.
What Can Speak Against The Shock Situation?
There is a rule of thumb for reasons that can speak against the use of the shock position. It concerns the five “B.” Patients should not be put into shock if they are
- Suffer from shortness of breath, chest pain, an injury to the Chest, or suspect an acute heart disease such as a heart attack (“Chest “)
- In the event of an injury to the skull (” pear “)
- If there is an injury or pain in the abdominal area (” abdomen “)
- If a broken leg is suspected (” legs “)
- For injuries to the pelvis or spine (” hump “)
What Are The Main Types Of Shock?
- Volume deficiency shock: Due to severe blood loss or high water and electrolyte loss (for example, in burns, long-lasting diarrhea ).
- Hypoglycemic shock: Result of severe hypoglycemia, for example, in diabetics when the amount of insulin injected is too high concerning food. If the person is awake, responsive, and can swallow without problems, a piece of glucose or some cola may help with hypoglycemia.
- Cardiogenic shock: Heart failure, for example, due to a heart attack or severe cardiac arrhythmias. Caution: in the case of cardiogenic shock, do not take a shock position, but raise your upper body!
- Anaphylactic shock: caused by a strong allergic reaction that affects the entire body. The allergy sufferer’s emergency kit can help in this case – if used according to the attending physician’s instructions.
- Septic-toxic shock: When the organism is flooded with bacterial toxins (so-called blood poisoning ). There are often no typical signs of surprise, but mainly only accelerated breathing and a high fever.
- Neurogenic shock: A shock caused by nerve damage, such as a spinal cord injury.
Many people understand shock to be a mental state of emergency after a traumatic experience. With some sufferers or after extreme situations, the professional help of a psychologist or psychiatrist is necessary. Doctors usually describe psychological stress as an acute stress reaction and not as a shock.
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