Shock

Recognise and manage shock in a child by calling 101 immediately, controlling bleeding, positioning appropriately, maintaining warmth, and monitoring for sudden deterioration. Apply when: A child showing signs of inadequate tissue perfusion from any cause: tachycardia (earliest sign), pale or cool skin, prolonged capillary refill (>2 seconds), cold clammy extremities, anxiety or irritability, rapid shallow breathing, mottled skin, altered mental status, or hypotension (a late sign). Common pediatric causes include hemorrhage (trauma), dehydration (vomiting/diarrhea), burns, severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), and severe infection (sepsis). Children have much lower total blood volumes than adults (a newborn has only ~240 mL, a one-year-old ~800 mL), so small fluid losses that would be insignificant in adults can be life-threatening in children.