- Shock position
The shock position is used usually by a medical worker of
First Responder or higher. The shock position is when a person is lying flat on their back with the legs elevated approximately 8-12 inches. This is used when a patient is showing signs of shock.cite book |last= Irwin |first= Richard S. |coauthors= Rippe, James M. |title= [http://www.lww.com/product/?0-7817-3548-3 Intensive Care Medicine] |publisher= Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia & London |year= 2003 |month= January |id= ISBN 0-7817-3548-3] cite book |last = Marino |first = Paul L. |title = [http://www.lww.com/product/?978-0-7817-4802-5 The ICU Book] |publisher = Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia & London |year = 2006 |month = September |id = ISBN 0-7817-4802-X] cite web|url=http://www.sccm.org/SCCM/FCCS+and+Training+Courses/FCCS/FCCSCourseAdmin.htm|title=Fundamental Critical Care Support, A standardized curriculum of Critical Care|publisher=Society of Critical Care Medicine, Des Plaines, Illinois] cite book|url=http://books.mcgraw-hill.com/medical/harrisons/|title=Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine] The shock position is also used for patients experiencing heat related emergencies. The purpose of the shock position is to elevate the legs above the heart in a manner that will slightly help blood flow to the heart. Hopefully helping more blood become oxygenated and helping some with the hypoxia that causes shock.Because of
vasodilation , placing the patient in theTrendelenburg position , does not work since bloodvessels are highly compliant, and expand as result of the increased volume locally. More suitable would be the use of vasopressors.References
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