HOW TO RECOGNIZE SHOCK

1-14 · Be sure you draw the tourniquet tight enough to stop the bleeding, but do not make it any tighter than necessary. · Do not loosen a tourniquet after it has been applied except in extreme emergency. · Do not cover a tourniquet with a dressing. If you must cover the injured person in some way, make sure that all other people concerned with the case know about the tourniquet. Using crayon, magic marker, or blood, mark a large T on the victim's forehead or on a medical tag attached to the wrist. Shock If you've ever hit your finger with a hammer and felt — in addition to the pain — weak, dizzy, and nauseous, then you have experienced a mild form of shock. In such an instance, the symptoms appear immediately after the injury; but they may not show up for several hours. Shock is a condition in which blood circulation is seriously disturbed. Crushed or fractured bones, burns, prolonged bleeding, and asphyxia all cause shock. It may be slight or it may be severe enough to cause death. Because all injuries will result in some form of shock, you must learn its symptoms and know how to treat the victim. HOW TO RECOGNIZE SHOCK.—A person who is going into shock may show quite a few signs or symptoms, some of which are indicated in figure 1-9 and are discussed below. Remember, however, that signs of shock do not always appear at the time of the injury; indeed, in many serious cases they may not appear until hours later. Figure 1-9.—Symptoms of shock.