Shock in adults and older children
Shock is a life-threatening condition. Immediate medical care can make the difference between life and death.
Adults and older children usually have several symptoms of shock, including:
- Passing out (losing consciousness).
- Feeling very dizzy or lightheaded, like you may pass out.
- Feeling very weak or having trouble standing.
- Not feeling alert or able to think clearly. You may be confused, restless, fearful, or unable to respond to questions.
Also, a person in shock usually has an abnormal increase in heart rate and an abnormal decrease in blood pressure.
Shock may occur in response to a sudden illness or injury. When the body loses too much blood or fluids, the circulatory system can't get enough blood to the vital organs, and shock results.
- Call 911 or other emergency services.
- Have the person lie down. If there is an injury to the head, neck, or chest, keep the legs flat. Otherwise, raise the person's legs at least 12 in. (32 cm) .
- If the person vomits, roll them to one side to let fluids drain from the mouth. Use care if there could be an injury to the back or neck.
- Stop any bleeding, and splint any broken bones.
- Keep the person warm but not hot. Put a blanket under the person, and cover them with a sheet or blanket, depending on the weather. If the person is in a hot place, try to keep them cool.
- Take the person's pulse in case medical staff on the phone need to know what the pulse is. Take it again if the person's condition changes.
- Try to keep the person calm.
What are the symptoms of shock?
Adults and older children usually have several symptoms of shock, including:
- Passing out (losing consciousness).
- Feeling very dizzy or lightheaded, like you may pass out.
- Feeling very weak or having trouble standing.
- Not feeling alert or able to think clearly. You may be confused, restless, fearful, or unable to respond to questions.
Babies and young children also usually have several symptoms of shock, including:
- Passing out (losing consciousness).
- Being very sleepy or hard to wake up.
- Not responding when being touched or talked to.
- Breathing much faster than usual.
- Acting confused. The child may not know where they are.
How to treat shock
Prompt home treatment can save the life of a person who is in shock.
- Call 911 or other emergency services.
- Have the person lie down. If there is an injury to the head, neck, or chest, keep the legs flat. Otherwise, raise the person's legs at least 12 in. (30 cm) .
- If the person vomits, roll them to one side to let fluids drain from the mouth. If you think the person might have a neck or back injury, gently roll the person's head, neck, shoulders, and body together as a unit (logroll).
- Stop any bleeding, and splint any broken bones.
- Keep the person warm but not hot. Put a blanket under the person, and cover them with a sheet or blanket, depending on the weather. If the person is in a hot place, try to keep the person cool.
- Take the person's pulse in case medical staff on the phone need to know how fast or slow it is. Take it again if the person's condition changes.
- Try to keep the person calm.
What is shock?
Shock means that your body and its functions are shutting down. The body goes into shock when it can't get enough blood to the vital organs like your heart or brain. This may be caused by a sudden illness, an injury, or bleeding. Sometimes even a mild injury will lead to shock.
Shock is a life-threatening condition. If a person has signs of shock, call911 or other emergency services and start home treatment right away.
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