First aid: shock
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After a serious injury such as severe bleeding or burns, recurrent vomiting, severe diarrhoea or extreme pain or fear, a child may suffer from shock. Symptoms include: pale, cold, clammy skin; shallow and rapid breathing with yawning and sighing; sickness and vomiting; and, eventually unconsciousness. If you notice any of the symptoms, especially if there is no obvious bleeding, act immediately. Send someone for help while you attend to her. If she becomes unconscious, follow the steps mentioned here.
- Lay your child down, preferably on a blanket and keep her head low.
- Raise her legs, unless you suspect a broken bone, to keep the circulating blood in the centre of the body. Loosen any tight clothing and, if it is cold, cover your child with a blanket. Call an ambulance.
Warning
- Do not give your child anything to eat or drink. If she's thirsty simply moisten her lips with water.
- Do not warm her with a hot-water bottle or electric blanket; it takes blood away from the vital organs.
New Babycare
Copyright © 2009 Dorling Kindersley
Text copyright © 2009 Miriam Stoppard
Posted 30.06.2010
See more in the dossier: Emergency first aid
- First aid: serious bleeding
- First aid: broken bones
- First aid: burns and scalds
- First aid: choking
- First aid: clothing on fire
- First aid: electric shock
- First aid: head injury
- First aid: heat exhaustion and heatstroke
- First aid: hypothermia
- First aid kit
- First aid: poisoning
- First aid: unconsciousness
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