Treating Shock
Shock is a life-threatening condition where the body’s organs don’t get enough blood and oxygen. It can follow serious bleeding, burns, crush injuries, severe allergic reactions or heart problems. First aid can’t cure shock, but it can buy time until help arrives.
- All workers
Warning signs
- Pale, gray or bluish skin that feels cool and clammy
- Rapid, weak pulse
- Rapid, shallow breathing
- Anxiety, restlessness, confusion or drowsiness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Extreme thirst
- Weakness or dizziness
What to do
- Call 911.
- Treat the cause you can: stop severe bleeding first. See Bleeding Control.
- Have them lie down on their back. If there’s no sign of head, neck, back or leg injury and it doesn’t cause pain, you may raise their legs slightly.
- Keep them warm with a blanket or jacket under and over them; protect them from the ground, wind and wet.
- Don’t give food or drink, even if they’re thirsty; they may need surgery and could vomit.
- Reassure them and keep them still.
- Watch breathing and be ready to start CPR. See CPR & AED.
Shock can come on slowly. Someone who seems fine right after an injury can go into shock minutes later. Stay with an injured worker and keep checking until EMS takes over.
Special cases
- Severe allergic reaction: use their epinephrine auto-injector. See Severe Allergic Reactions.
- Trouble breathing: let them sit in the position that’s easiest to breathe.
- Vomiting: roll them onto their side (keeping the head and neck in line if you suspect a spine injury).
- Suspected spine injury: don’t move them unless necessary. See Neck & Spine Injuries.
Standards & references
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