Shock is a condition resulting from a depressed state of many vital functions, a depression that could threaten life even though the victim’s injuries would not otherwise be fatal.

Injury-related shock, commonly referred to as traumatic shock, is decidedly different from electrical shock, insulin shock, and other special forms of shock.

1. Shock may be caused by severe injuries of all types, hemorrhage, or loss of body fluids other than blod (as in prolonged vomiting, dysentery, or burns); infection; heart attack or stroke, or poisoning by chemicals, gases, alcohol, or drugs. Shock also results from lack of oxygen, caused by obstruction of air passages or injury to the respiratory system.
2. The degree of shock is increased by abnormal changes in body temperature and by poor resistance of the victim to stress.
3. Shock is aggravated by pain, by rough handling, and by delay in treatment.

1. the skin is pale and cold to the touch. In the care of victims with dark skin, It may be necessary to rely primarily on the color of the mucous membranes on the inside of the mouth or under the eyelids, or of the nail beds.
2. The skin may be moist and clammy if perspiration has occurred.
3. The victim is weak.
4. The pulse is usually quite rapid and often too faint to be felt at the wrist but perceptible in the carotid artery at the side of the neck or in the demoral artery at the groin.
5. The rate of breathing is usually increase; it may be shallow, possibly deep, and irregular.
6. If there has been an injury to the chest or abdomen, breathing will almost certainly be shallow, because of the pain involved in breathing deeply.

Give urgently necessary first aid immediately to eliminate the causes of shock, such as stoppage of breathinf, hemorrhaging, or severe pain.

1. Keep the victim lying down.
2. Cover him only enough to keep him from losing body heat
3. Get medical help as soon as possible.

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