Shock! What is it?

11 August 2025/in Blog

Managing a Casualty in Shock Following Injury

Shock, is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body is not getting enough blood flow, depriving vital organs of oxygen. It often results from trauma, significant blood loss, burns, severe infections, or allergic reactions. Recognizing and treating shock rapidly can mean the difference between life and death. When a casualty develops shock after an injury, prompt and effective intervention is essential. This guide provides a thorough approach to recognizing, treating, and supporting a casualty who is experiencing shock.

What is Shock?

Shock is a critical failure of the circulatory system, leading to inadequate delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the tissues. It is not simply a psychological response or emotional upset—it is a physical crisis that requires immediate action. There are several types of shock, including hypovolemic (due to blood loss), cardiogenic (due to heart problems), septic (due to severe infection), and anaphylactic (due to severe allergic reaction). Injuries most commonly cause hypovolemic (from blood loss or fluid loss) and sometimes neurogenic shock (from spinal injury).

Recognizing Shock

Early recognition is crucial. The sooner treatment begins, the better the chance of survival. Look for these key signs and symptoms:

Pale, cold, and clammy skin
Rapid, weak pulse
Rapid, shallow breathing
Nausea or vomiting
Thirst
Confusion, anxiety, or restlessness
Dizziness or faintness
Low blood pressure (if able to measure)
Blue tinge around lips and fingernails (cyanosis)

As shock progresses, the casualty may become unconscious. If shock is not treated, it can lead to organ failure and death.

Principles of Treating Shock

When you suspect someone is in shock, your priorities are:

Call for emergency medical help immediately.
Stop any ongoing loss of blood or fluids.
Ensure an open airway and support breathing. Recovery position if unconscious and breathing normally.
Help maintain body temperature by using an emergency blanket from the first aid kit if available.
Reassure and monitor the casualty.

Step-by-Step Treatment

1. Call for Emergency Help

Time is of the essence. As soon as you suspect shock, dial emergency services. Give them clear information about the casualty’s condition, location, and details of the injury.

2. Lay the Casualty Down

Help the casualty to lie flat on their back fi conscious and make comfortable.

3. Control Bleeding and Treat Injuries

If the casualty is bleeding:

Apply firm, direct pressure to the wound with a clean cloth, bandage, or even your hand if necessary.
Do not remove any embedded objects—apply pressure around them.

4. Support Breathing and Airway

Make sure the airway is open:

If they are unconscious but breathing, place them in the recovery position: on their side, with the mouth open and facing downward to allow fluids to drain.
If necessary, clear the mouth of any obstructions.

5. Maintain Body Temperature

People in shock are very vulnerable to cold. Cover them with a blanket, coat, or any available covering to keep them warm, but avoid overheating. If outside, protect them from wind, rain, or snow. However, do not allow them to eat or drink, especially if surgery may be needed.

6. Monitor and Reassure

Stay with the casualty and observe their condition closely. Talk to them calmly and reassuringly, even if they seem confused or agitated. Be ready to perform CPR if they stop breathing and become unconscious.

7. Do Not Give Food or Drink

Do not give the casualty anything to eat or drink—even if they are thirsty. Food and fluids can complicate medical treatment, especially if surgery is required. If the casualty asks for water, moisten their lips with a damp cloth.

8. Loosen Tight Clothing

If safe and appropriate, loosen tight clothing to improve circulation and comfort.

9. Avoid Unnecessary Movement

Keep the casualty as still as possible. Excessive movement can worsen injuries or increase blood loss.

10. Keep Calm and Wait for Help

Remain calm to help the casualty to remain calm and provide reassurance. Calmly encourage the casualty to relax and breathe slowly. Stay alert for any changes in their condition.

Special Considerations

Spinal Injuries:

If you suspect a spinal injury, do not move the casualty’s head, neck, or back unless absolutely necessary for safety or to maintain an airway if unconscious and breathing. Do not elevate the legs. Call for professional help immediately.

Pregnancy:

For a pregnant casualty, avoid the shock position. Instead, place them on their left side to minimize pressure on major blood vessels.

What Not To Do

Do not let the casualty get up or walk around.
Do not give medication unless prescribed by a healthcare professional.
Do not try to warm with a hot-water bottle or direct heat.
Do not ignore any signs of worsening condition.

When to Perform CPR

If at any point the casualty becomes unconscious and stops breathing, begin CPR immediately and continue until help arrives. Attach a Defibrillator if available and follow the voice prompts.

Preventing Shock

While not always possible to prevent, quick recognition and treatment of injury, bleeding, or other causes can minimise the risk of shock developing. Educate yourself and others in basic first aid to be prepared for emergencies. It is always recommended to attend a First Aid Course under instruction of trained professionals to practice vital first aid skills.

Conclusion

Treating shock in an injured casualty is about rapid assessment, reassurance, and careful action. Your ability to stay calm, control bleeding, and keep the casualty warm can save a life. Remember, always seek professional medical help as soon as possible. First aid is not a substitute for proper medical care but is often the vital first step toward recovery.

Teach your children to call for help!

27 March 2025/in Blog

Have you taught your children to call the ambulance? Do they know the number? Do they know not to hang up? Do they know the ambulance operator is not a scary person and will help them in an emergency?

Four easy words to teach your children to help them to remember how to call for help are:

CALL – call the emergency number in your country (000 or 112 on a mobile phone in Australia)

SAY – that you need an ambulance, police or fire brigade

WAIT – until the operator puts you through to the correct emergency service and DO NOT HANG UP

STAY – stay on the phone and answer the operator’s questions as best as you can. They will always help to keep you calm and tell you what to do if there is an emergency at home.

There are other important steps to teach your children in an emergency:

Practice an emergency plan if there is a fire or danger in the home. Do they know the best way to get out of the house?
Can they reach the door to open it up for the ambulance to enter the home?
Can your children remove any pets safely into another part of the house so the ambulance can enter the home safely?
Do your children know where the first aid kit is in the house and how to use the items in the first aid kit?
Have you taught your children the recovery position in case a parent, grandparent or other relative falls unconscious in the home.
Teach your children some basic first aid skills so they may able to save a life one day.

Finlay the First Aid Bear has a great catchy song to sing a long to “Call, Say, Wait, Stay” available to download on Spotify and most streaming platforms.

What is the Recovery Position?

18 March 2025/in Blog

The recovery position is an important position to place an unconscious breathing casualty. If the unconscious breathing casualty remains on their back for too long then there is a risk of choking on their bodily fluids and the tongue relaxing and blocking their airway. The staff at the Ipswich Jets Football League Club have recently practiced this important skill on each other, as they have a very large clientele that come and visit the club every day. The most important part of this position is ensuring that the head is tilted back and the mouth facing downwards to allow for the drainage of any fluids from the mouth and nose.

It is recommended to learn this important skill in a First Aid or CPR course, and be prepared for anyone unconscious and breathing at home, at work or in a public place. It could save a life! A first aid course will provide you with more information about this skill. Teach your children this important skill too, so that they can save your life if needed.

Emergency Checklist from Get Ready Queensland

5 March 2025/in Blog

GRQ Emergency Kit checklist

Please go to “Get Ready Queensland” website : https://www.getready.qld.gov.au/emergencykit to find out what to pack in an emergency kit. I have attached it to this blog but it is well worth reading the other important information about getting ready for any emergencies – cyclone, fire, flooding etc.

It is very important to have your first aid kit ready to be prepared for emergencies that can happen from broken glass, flying debris, falls and building collapses. Some of these incidents can cause severe bleeding, broken bones, spinal injuries and unconsciousness. I have never personally been through any cyclone before and it certainly is a bit daunting as it really is “unknown” what will happen. All I can do is be prepared! Brush up on your first aid skills if you have done a course a while ago and I wish everyone to stay safe. My fingers and toes are crossed that Alfred will behave himself!

Follow the steps of DRSABCD in an Emergency

3 March 2025/in Blog

Emergency Action Plan – DRSABCD

Do you know the below facts on Cardiac Arrest in Australia:

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Australia.
Only approximately 10% of people who experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital survive.
Performing immediate CPR and attaching an AED (Defibrillator) by a bystander can significantly increase the chances of survival, potentially doubling or tripling the survival rate.
Nearly 80% or out-of-hospital cardiac arrest happens at home – so are you prepared?
Statistics indicate that men are more likely to experience cardiac arrest than women.

Learning how to perform CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) is important skill to have that you hope you will never need to use. A lot of people are caught out and not prepared when an emergency happens at home. Even just performing compressions on a person will give them a better survival rate than doing nothing. CPR is all about maintaining blood flow and oxygen around the body as the person’s heart is no longer pumping. Call the ambulance as soon as you can and use a Defibrillator if there is one nearby and follow the voice the prompts! Survival rates are greatly increased with the use of early defibrillation.

Learn the DRSABCD of CPR as per the attached flyer and practice these skills in a first aid course so that you are better prepared for an emergency. Give us a call if you wish to know more information about Cardiac Arrest, CPR, Defibrillators or you wish to come and learn first aid with us – 07)3901 0599.

Tag Archive for: cardiac arrest