Electric shock Symbol meaning

Please note that these suggestions are not a substitute for first aid training. Refer to the Where to get help section of this fact sheet for organisations that offer first aid courses. Your training may save a life.

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Medical shock is a life-threatening emergency. Effective first aid and prompt medical attention can save a person’s life. First aid management includes:

For unexpected after-hours medical issues, there are telephone helplines, pharmacies, after-hours medical clinics or doctors who can visit you at home.

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Severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) and asthma attacks need urgent emergency first aid. In an emergency, always call triple zero (000).

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Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional. The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances. The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website.

Medical shock is a life-threatening condition. A person’s chances of surviving medical shock depend on various factors including:

Allergies to insect stings and bites range from milder allergic reactions to life-threatening, severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis).

You can help a person who has non-medical shock by comforting them or encouraging them to use anxiety management techniques, until the reason for their fright or fear is removed.

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In all cases of medical shock, treatment aims to restore the blood circulation and manage or prevent complications. When the person reaches the emergency department of the nearest hospital, medical staff will often make efforts to secure their airway and boost their blood circulation, before diagnosing the cause of shock. In some cases (such as stab wounds, severe burns or traumatic amputation), the cause of shock is obvious. In other cases, once the person is out of immediate life-threatening danger, hospital staff may use diagnostic tests to learn the cause of the person’s low blood pressure. Tests may involve:

Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional. The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances. The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website.

This web site is managed and authorised by the Department of Health, State Government of Victoria, Australia © Copyright State of Victoria 2024.

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Most people think of ‘shock’ as emotional distress or sudden fright in response to a traumatic event. But in medical terms, shock is when you do not have enough blood circulating around your body. It is a life-threatening medical emergency. Some of the causes of shock include uncontrolled bleeding, severe burns and spinal injury. A drop in blood pressure reduces the flow of oxygen and nutrients to a person’s vital organs such as their brain, heart and lungs. If the blood flow is not restored, the person may die from complications due to lack of oxygen supply to major organs (hypoxia).

Generally, hypovolaemic, neurogenic and anaphylactic shock respond well to treatment. But in about half of all cases of cardiogenic and septic shock, the person will die.

In medical terms, shock is the body’s response to a sudden drop in blood pressure. At first, the body responds to this life-threatening situation by constricting (narrowing) blood vessels in the extremities (hands and feet). This is called vasoconstriction and it helps conserve blood flow to the vital organs. But the body also releases the hormone (chemical) adrenaline and this can reverse the body’s initial response. When this happens, the blood pressure drops, which can be fatal. Many things affect the severity and effect of shock on a person, such as their health, age, gender and personality, where on their body they are injured, and the environment. If a person has emotional distress or sudden fright, their body releases adrenaline into the bloodstream, but this usually reverses itself in a healthy person. This is where the confusion in the term ‘shock’ sometimes occurs. This ‘non-medical shock’ is a response to anxiety or fear. Although the symptoms can look like those of medical shock, this ‘fright-flight’ response is short lived and symptoms will disappear once the person is comforted or the reason for the fright or fear is removed.