Shock

Let me start with a question, which person below do think is suffering from shock?

                  

The answer is both of them. Our friend on the left is suffering from psychological shock (maybe she saw that this blog has a global audience), and our friend on the right is suffering from medical shock.

What is medical shock?

Shock is a life-threatening condition where important organs like the brain and heart are are deprived or have low oxygen levels.

How do I know if someone is suffering from shock?

If a person is bleeding quite severely or if there is a chance they may have sustained a spinal injury, there is a high chance that they may go into shock.
The symptoms of shock are:

• Pale face
• Fast, shallow breathing
• A fast weak pulse
• Cold, clammy skin
• Sighing or yawning

Sometimes a person suffering from shock can become unconsciousness.

How do I treat someone who is suffering from shock?

How To Treat Shock

Should I call an ambulance, and what do I tell them?

Call 999 and ask for an ambulance. Your response should be along the lines of  the following template.
"A  _(age and gender)_  is suffering from shock, she has sustained a _(the type of  injury e.g. head wound)_ and _(any other information which could be useful)_.
Don't worry the emergency medical dispatcher (the guy on the right), will prompt you and ask you questions to help you.

Here's an example. (I've put some of it in green to give a better idea of what is the most information they require).
A 21 year old female is suffering from shock, she has a head wound which is bleeding severely, she
also feels slightly dizzy. I'm opposite Wimbledon station, in front of the Starbucks.

Now you should know:

• the symptoms of shock
• how to treat shock
• and what to tell the emergency medical dispatcher

Thanks for reading.  If you have any questions, comments or just wish to express an opinion about the blog, use the contact me page at the top of the blog.

New Years Eve

Happy New Year Guys and Guys! 2013 is here! Hope everyone enjoyed NYE and had fun!

I was at a treatment centre at Waterloo station (well outside it, rather than in it but you get the picture), and I treated quite a few intoxicated patients. One things, that several other medics at various treatment centres and I came across was that lots of intoxicated patients had come with friends, but those friends had abandoned them when they became ill or unconscious. SERIOUSLY???

"Faithful in Adversity"- Royal Army Medical Corps motto

You should always remember that motto when going out drinking with the intention of getting drunk. As stated in my previous post "The Effect and Consequences of Mixing Drugs and Alcohol", the friend or person with the intoxicated patient is sometimes more useful to us (the medical personnel). As sometimes the patient might either not remember/refuse to tell what and how much they've drunk, in which case the friend can tell us what they've drunk allowing us to treat more effectively.

My journey home was interesting after NYE celebrations (think I got the train at about 0450), got onto the train and a group of drunk people started clapping and hugging me and saying thank you!

Anyways, 2013 is here! I hope you have a great year! I'm ready for 2013, SO LET'S DO THIS!