Circulatory System

Question 1

What is meant by the term “shock”?
What are the three types?

Answer 1

The body’s sudden inability to maintain blood pressure, or inadequate delivery of oxygenated blood to the tissues and organs of the body
Cariogenic: failure of the heart to pump blood {heart attack}
Hypovolemic: low fluid volume in the system {major hemorrhage, severe dehydration}
Vasogenic: loss of tone within the blood vessel and loss of pressure in the system {sepsis, infection}

Question 2

How can you tell if someone may be in shock?

Answer 2

Rapid/weak pulse; weak/shallow breathing; pale, cool, clammy skin; anxiety/restlessness; nausea/thirst

Question 3

How can you use the radial pulse and mental status to know which stage of shock someone may be in?

Answer 3

Early/Compensated: increased heart rate; anxious and restless; stable radial pulse
Late/Decompensated: disoriented; decreased alertness; drowsy; weak radial pulse
Late/Irreversible: unresponsive; no radial pulse

Question 4

Treating shock in the wilderness is very difficult, especially without medical training or equipment. However, what are some things you can do to help the patient?

Answer 4

treat the underlying cause (Cardiogenic: basic life support/CPR; Hypovolemic: treat bleeding/dehydration; Vasogenic: evacuate immediately); lay flat with legs elevated; maintain warmth

Question 5

When should you evacuate someone who’s in shock?

Answer 5

immediately if they are vasogenic or cardiogenic or if the condition continues to deteriorate

Question 6

What are the signs of acute coronary syndrome (heart attack)?
Is the pain always directly above the heart?

Answer 6

Sign: chest pain; chest pressure; tightness/fulness in chest; pain in arm, jaw, neck, back, or stomach; shortness of breath; lightheadedness; nausea; sweating

No

Question 7

How do you treat a heart attack in the wilderness?

Answer 7

stop all activity; administer asprin (325 mg for adult, ground in molars); evacuate immediately

Question 8

Someone has a bleeding injury. What should you be regularly testing downstream of
the injury?

Answer 8

Radial pulse

Question 9

How can you tell the difference between someone who is experiencing sinus
tachycardia (a regular, fast heart rate) from a more concerning arrythmia?

Answer 9

Does not resolve with rest

Question 10

What are the signs that someone has experienced syncope?
What should you do to help them?
Do they always need to be evacuated?

Answer 10

Sign: loss of consciousness (fainting)
Treatment: remove from dangerous conditions/stimulus; monitor breathing and heart rate; elevate legs over heart; treat underlying cause (active cooling; rehydrate; activity cessation)
Evacuation: do not always need to be evacuated