wfa

1. Shock and Heart
Attack
COVERS CHAPTERS 4 AND 25

2. General Information
• Shock: Inadequate perfusion
• Occurs when cardiovascular
system is challenged, causing
the body to not receive
enough oxygenated blood.
© Jones and Bartlett Learning.

3. General Information
• Shock is caused by a variety of illnesses and
injuries
• Loss of body fluid, heart failure/heart attack,
drop in blood pressure due to spinal cord
damage or severe allergic reaction
• Shock patients go through stages as they
deteriorate

4. Assessment and
Treatment of Shock
• In the early stages, look for:
• Level of responsiveness (LOR) that is anxious, restless,
and/or disoriented.
• Heart rate (HR) that is rapid and weak.
• Respiratory rate (RR) that is rapid and shallow.
• Skin color, temperature, and moisture (SCTM) that is pale,
cool, and clammy (but may be pink and warm in some
cases, such as if the shock is the result of an allergic
reaction).
• Symptoms that include nausea (and sometimes vomiting),
dizziness, and thirst.

5. Assessment and
Treatment of Shock
• In the later stages, look for:
• LOR that continually decreases with eventual
unresponsiveness.
• HR in which the radial pulse (the pulse at the wrist)
grows increasingly rapid, weakens, and eventually
disappears.

6. Guidelines for Assessment
and Treatment of Shock
• Shock can kill, and shock treatment is limited in the
wilderness.
• Early recognition and management are critical.
1. Treat shock early – before serious symptoms develop.
2. If you identify the cause, treat it immediately.
3. Keep patient calm and reassured.

7. Assessment and
Treatment of Shock
4. Keep patient lying down. If
no trauma is involved,
raising legs may be helpful.
5. Protect patient from loss of
body heat
6. Sips of cool water may be
given to prevent
dehydration, if the patient
is able to drink.
©JonesandBartlettLearning.

8. Assessment and Treatment
of Heart Attack
• Heart attack: Damage or death of part of the heart
muscle due to lack of adequate perfusion
• Heart attack is the leading cause of death in the
United States
• They can, but don’t always, lead to shock
• This makes the heart attack more serious and often fatal.

9. Assessment and Treatment
of Heart Attack
• Patients often complain of chest discomfort.
• Crushing, squeezing, pressure
• Pain on left side may radiate to shoulder, down arm,
or into jaw.
• Patients may deny the possibility of a heart attack.

10. Assessment and Treatment
of Heart Attack
• In all situations, keep patient physically and
emotionally calm, and comfortable.
• Don’t allow patient to walk – even short
distances.
• If the patient has no allergies, and it is safe to do
so, give aspirin.
• Two to four low-dose (81 mg each), or one adult
aspirin (325 mg)
• Have patient chew aspirin.
• If swallowed whole, the pill(s) will take too long to be
absorbed.

11. Guidelines for
Evacuation
• Evacuate any patient with signs/symptoms of shock
that do not stabilize or improve.
• Evacuate rapidly any patient with decreased mental
status or worsening vitals.
• Go quickly if your assessment is a heart attack.
• All of these patients need to be carried.