What signs and symptoms would heighten your suspicions that the patient is going into shock

A person who is going into shock may show quite a

few signs or symptoms, some of which are indicated.   Remember,  that  signs  of  shock  don’t

always appear at the time of the injury; and, in many

very  serious  cases,  symptoms  may  not  appear  until

hours later.

The symptoms of a person suffering from shock are

caused, directly or indirectly, by the disturbance of the

circulation of the blood. Symptoms of shock include the

following:

The pulse is weak and rapid.

Breathing  is  likely  to  be  shallow,  rapid,  and

irregular,  because  the  poor  circulation  of  the  blood

affects the breathing center in the brain.

The temperature near the surface of the body is

lowered  because  of  the  poor  blood  flow;  so  the  face,

arms, and legs feel cold to the touch.

Sweating is likely to be very noticeable.

A  person  in  shock  is  usually  very  pale,  but,  in

some cases, the skin may have a bluish or reddish color.

In the case of victims with dark skin, you may have to

rely primarily on the color of the mucous membranes on

the inside of the mouth or under the eyelid or under the

nail bed. A person in or going into shock has a bluish

color to these membranes instead of a healthy pink

Explanation: