Traumatic shock is a critically dangerous condition of the body that occurs due to severe injuries that lead to insufficient blood supply to organs and a disorder of the nervous system.
Fractures, gunshot wounds, injuries to the skull and abdomen lead to traumatic shock. The main factors that provoke a shock condition are severe pain and significant blood loss.
Under the influence of pain, a vasospasm occurs , a significant part of the blood ceases to participate in the blood circulation, the pressure drops, the work of the heart worsens, oxygen starvation sets in due to poor blood supply, and the central nervous system is disrupted. This is usually exacerbated by severe blood loss.
Traumatic shock in its symptoms is similar to internal or external bleeding:
- pale skin on which marble stains can appear;
- dry mouth ;
- frequent breathing;
- confused consciousness;
- weak frequent pulse.
Two stages of traumatic shock are noted - excitation and inhibition.
Stage of excitement
Immediately after the injury, the victim tries to move actively, speaks a lot, shows fear and anxiety. He does not understand how difficult his condition is, he answers the questions correctly, only sometimes he complains of pain. Blood pressure and pulse are normal, breathing is frequent, skin is pale.
If the injury is serious, then the stage of excitation may not be. In general, the shorter this stage, the harder and longer the traumatic shock passes.
Braking stage
When the blood supply becomes completely insufficient, the inhibition of the victim begins to increase. He lies motionless, does not complain of pain, his eyes wander, he does not answer questions or speaks very quietly. The skin gradually turns gray and sweat, hands and feet become cold. The pulse is very frequent and weak, the pressure is low.
Depending on the pulse and pressure, it is established what degree of shock the victim has.
I degree - easy. The consciousness is clear, the pulse is about 90 beats per minute, the pressure is not lower than 90 mm.
II degree - medium. Reactions are inhibited, the skin is pale. The pulse rises to 140 beats per minute, and the pressure drops to 80 mm. This degree requires anti-shock therapy.
III degree - heavy. Hands and feet are cold, the victim’s consciousness is confused or completely absent, the pulse is determined only on the largest arteries, its frequency is 180 beats per minute. The forecast for the development of the situation is very unfavorable.
IV degree - terminal. Unconscious, lips turn blue, skin turns gray. Pressure is not detected, or is below 50 mm. The pulse is barely noticeable on the largest arteries. The outcome is most often fatal.
Traumatic shock - first aid
Prior to the arrival of the team of doctors, you can carry out a number of procedures on your own in order to slightly improve the condition of the victim:
- cover a person with a coat or blanket to maintain normal temperature;
- lay it on a flat surface so that the head is at the same level with the body. If there is a suspicion of damage to the spine, then the victim should not be touched;
- legs need to be raised to improve blood circulation to important organs. This cannot be done if the injured person has a head, neck, hip, lower leg injury, suspected heart attack or stroke;
- ensure free breathing - unfasten clothing, remove foreign objects in place.
- external bleeding must be tried to stop;
- reassure, talk, do not allow the victim to actively move;
- Do not give a drink, but only moisten his lips with a damp cloth.
It is very important to instill confidence in the victim that everything will be fine. The outcome of his condition depends on his psychological comfort and your ability to convince.