Emotional Shock — feeling faint or weak, even to the point of fainting. Brought about by unpleasant sights, emotional trauma, etc. This comes on quickly. True shock — a condition with many causes that affects body functions severely. It may end in death.
What causes it?
1. Severe loss of blood — usually more than 850 ml (1 + pints). Do not forget that a person can lose pints of blood internally.
2. Loss of body fluid through the surface of burns or from prolonged diarrhoea and vomiting.
3. Severe bruising — even with no outward sign of blood loss, there can be several pints of blood in the tissue around a fractured large bone.
4. Any condition that stops the heart beating (e.g. heart attack, electric shock).
5. Severe infection (for example, a burst appendix).
6. Allergic shock.
What are the effects of shock ?
1. Blood pressure falls,
2. Blood flow to heart is decreased so that the heart beats faster.
3. The blood vessels jn the periphery constrict, so that most of the available blood is supplied to the vital organs of the body like the heart, brain, and kidneys. This ensures better supply of oxygen and nutrients to these structures.
4. As the shock progresses, the blood supply to the internal is shut off so that they undergo necrosis and lose their function.
5. If the shock is not treated in time, even the vital organs do not receive blood and the shock becomes irreversible.
6. The final stage is of death.
What are the factors affecting the degree of shock ?
1. Pain : Neurogenic shock increases in severity with the severity of pain.
2. Fatigue : It increases severity of shock.
3. Chronic diseases : Persons having chronic diseases develop shock easily.
4. Physical condition : People who are starved or exposed to extremes of heat or cold develop shock more easily.
Signs of a shocked person
Pale or even grey, Cold to touch. Eyelids are half open, pupils are dilated, Sweaty, Breathing in a rapid, shallow way, Pulse is fast and weak, Restless and anxious, Thirsty, Urine output is low or absent, blurring of vision, Nauseated and may vomit, Unconscious or may be in coma.
Action
If most of the above list are present, the victim is in a bad way and needs urgent medical help. Get some one to call an ambulance or doctor.
Try to help the shock victim before he gets this bad.
For any severe injury, start preventing shock even before signs appear.
1. Stop bleeding. Press over the area.
2. Remove him only from serious hazard — otherwise do not move him. If he is in the road — treat him there — and get others to keep traffic clear.
3. Place him in the recovery position.
4. Cover up and dress any wounds to reduce distress.
5. Loosen tight clothing.
6. Keep him from getting chilled with a blanket or other light covering.
7. Do not apply heat or lots of blankets.
8. Reassure him; keep crowds away (give them things to do).
9. Never give anything by mouth to anyone in a severe state of shock (even if he is thirsty) or to anyone who is unconscious. Wet his lips with a damp cloth or your fingers dipped in water if he asks for a drink.
10. Never give alcohol or use hot water bottles — both draw blood (which is needed elsewhere for the vital functions of the body’s organs) to the skin.
11. Watch breathing — resuscitate if it stops.
12. Feel pulse rate at neck. As shock develops, the pulse can double in rate (normal is around 70 beats per minute).