A severe injury, or even the sight of one, will often cause intense nervousness, which is very weakening. This is especially true if the patient is suffering from severe bleeding. Check the bleeding before treating for shock.
Shock differs from fainting. The patient’s face becomes pale and the skin cold, the pupils of the eyes large.
What to do:
1. Send for the doctor.
2. Place patient on back with head low to allow plenty of blood to enter head.
3. Give hot water or hot coffee, or one-half teaspoonful aromatic spirit of ammonia in a quarter of a tumbler of water.
4. Hold smelling salts to the nose.
5. Do not excite by trying to remove clothing unless absolutely necessary, but keep patient warm by use of hot-water bottles and blankets, etc.
6. Cover patient. Rub limbs toward body.
7. Do not give whiskey or any other form of alcohol, if any other stimulant can be found—and never whiskey in case of hemorrhage (severe bleeding).