Health A-Z

What is shock?

Shock is a serious, life-threatening condition that happens when your body doesn’t get enough blood flow. Lack of blood flow to your organs means they won’t get enough oxygen, which can cause them to fail. Shock may also lead to a lack of oxygen in your body’s tissues (hypoxia) and can cause your heart to stop (cardiac arrest).

What are the signs and symptoms of shock?

The symptoms of shock depend on the cause and type of shock. Extremely low blood pressure is one of the most common signs. Other signs and symptoms of shock may include:

• Dizziness, lightheadedness or faintness.
• Anxiety.
• Blue or gray lips and fingernails.
• Confusion.
• Excessive sweating.
• Low or no urine (pee).
• Pale, cool or clammy skin.
• Fatigue.
• Rapid but weak heartbeat.
• Shallow breathing.

What is the first aid treatment for shock?

If you think someone is suffering from shock, the first thing you should do is call 911 or your local emergency department to request immediate medical help.

While waiting for help to arrive, check to see if the person is breathing. If they’re not breathing, start rescue breathing and CPR if you know how to do so. If the person is breathing, check their breathing every five minutes until help arrives.

If the person is awake and doesn’t have a head, neck, spine or leg injury, lay them down on their back with their feet elevated about 12 inches. Don’t elevate their head. If raising their legs causes pain, lay them flat. Make sure the person is warm and comfortable, and loosen any tight clothing. If the person has any visible wounds and you know how, give appropriate first aid and try to control any bleeding.

If the person starts to vomit, drool or bleed from their mouth, turn their head to the side to prevent choking (as long as they don’t have a spinal injury). If you suspect they have a spinal injury, perform a “log roll” instead: keep the person’s head, neck and back in line, and then roll their body and head together as a unit.

Some things you should not do as part of first aid shock treatment include:

• Do not give the person anything by mouth, including food or drink.
• Do not move the person if you suspect they may have a spinal injury.
• Do not move the person unless they’re in danger.
• Do not wait for mild shock symptoms to worsen before calling for help.

What are the effects of shock first aid?

If left untreated, shock can be fatal. By providing shock first aid treatment, you may be able to help stabilize a person suffering from shock until help arrives. The long-term effects of shock depend on the cause, type and amount of time that passed before treatment started.

What is shock first aid treatment?

Shock first aid treatment involves giving first aid to someone who has suffered from shock. Shock requires immediate treatment. As many as 1 in 5 people who get shock die from it. Hospital emergency departments in the United States report more than 1 million cases of shock each year.

First aid typically doesn't involve formal diagnosis or testing, as it's focused on immediate assistance to stabilize the person's condition until professional medical help arrives. However, you can:

• Assess Symptoms: Observe and ask questions to understand the nature and severity of the person's condition.
• Examine the Scene: Look for clues that might indicate what caused the injury or illness.
• Take Note of Medical History: If the person is conscious and able to communicate, ask about any pre-existing medical conditions or allergies.