Shock occurs when the heart does not pump adequate amounts of blood to fill the arteries at a great enough pressure to provide oxygen to organs and tissues.
Types of Shock:
1. Hypovolemic Shock – fluid shock, loss of circulating volume, whether it is internal or external fluid loss (bleeding). Can also be fluid loss from burns, diarrhea, vomiting and excessive urination.
2. Septic Shock – severe infections build toxins and cause blood vessels to leak and patients lose muscle tone. Half of all patients suffering from septic shock will die.
3. Neurogenic Shock – caused by spinal or head injuries. Blood vessels can dilate and blood pressure drops. Patients don’t actually lose blood, but dilated vessels cause the loss of effective blood volume.
4. Psychogenic Shock – (fainting) fear or sudden shock (i.e. bad news) can cause temporary rapid dilation of vessels, which can result in patient collapse. This is self-correcting.
5. Anaphylactic Shock – the reaction to a foreign protein, insect sting, food, medicine, pollen, or some other inhaled or ingested substance.
All types of shock have many signs and symptoms that provide you with some clues as to its origin. Remember, if someone has been injured, stung, bitten, or ingested something out of the ordinary and they are experiencing unusual symptoms, consider shock and seek medical help immediately. Anxiousness and restlessness are the most common behaviors to look for. Caught early enough, most types of shock can be reversed; the longer a patient is in shock, the greater the chance of death.
Treatment for Shock
• Lay flat on their back, loosen clothing
• Elevate legs if no trauma to back and neck
• Cover with rescue blanket