Skills & Techniques April 10, 2026 · shock, assessment

Recognizing and Treating Shock: A BC Attendant's Guide

Shock kills more BC workplace trauma patients than the original injury. Recognising it early is one of the most valuable skills Level 2 teaches.

Signs

  • Pale, cool, clammy skin
  • Rapid, weak pulse
  • Fast shallow breathing
  • Anxiety, confusion, restlessness
  • Late signs: decreased level of consciousness, drop in blood pressure

Treatment

  1. Control the cause (usually bleeding)
  2. Lay the patient down
  3. Maintain warmth
  4. Oxygen
  5. Continuous reassessment until EMS arrives

See bleeding control and oxygen therapy.

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About this site: IntermediateFirstAidTraining.ca is operated by Mainland Safety Training, a WorkSafeBC and Canadian Red Cross authorized provider. Our OFA Level 2 Intermediate First Aid course is delivered across Surrey, Vancouver, Burnaby, Langley, Richmond, Delta, Coquitlam, Abbotsford, Kelowna and Victoria.