what kind of medication should be given to a person going into shock due injuries or severe emotional trauma?

Is tranquilizer an effective method of calming the shock shell person?
does the medication require a trained medic to prescribed it?

There are several types/causes of shock; some have implications for medical treatment (drug treatment in the field by non-medical persons) others do not.

Shock due to trauma, such as hypovolemic shock (due to blood loss-especially internal bleeding) is best treated at a definitive care institution such as a Shock Trauma Center, as surgical intervention may be the only viable treatment. I.V. fluids can increase the chances to get the patient to the Trauma Center, but is not a definitive treatment. I.V. fluids can make a difference in burn cases where fluid loss is significant and causing severe hypotension (low blood pressure).

Shock due to a cardiovascular event (cardiogenic shock), can respond well to drug intervention, but unless you have the drugs, the knowledge and monitoring equipment, I do not think this is even a feasible option.

Hypoglycemic (too little blood sugar) shock/insulin shock does respond very quickly to drug intervention with oral glucose tablets/gel, cake icing, orange juice or hard candy for the conscious patient (this is viable treatment option for even the untrained) or I.V. Dextrose for the unconscious patient. Giving glucose to a patient with too high a blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia), will generally not create a major problem. When in doubt i.e. unable to take blood glucose reading, treat as though they were hypoglycemic and give sugar, their blood glucose levels can be regulated at the hospital.

Shock due some type of mental stress/scare – psychogenic shock is generally transitory due to a temporary interruption to the blood flow to the brain. Placing the victim in the “shock position” with the patient laying down with the legs elevated along with carefully and calmly chosen words will generally correct the situation.

Pete

You can't get much better information than that.

I might add that if you give anything to a person, other than the above mentioned sugar, you can be considered to be practicing medicine without a license, which can get you into all kinds of trouble. As an example, I have been stung by bees numerous times in my life, and have never had an elergic reaction to it. I have however seen several dozen others have a severe reaction, and the only thing that kept them alive was rapid transportation to a medical facility. Having seen the reaction first hand, I know that it is an ugly way to possibly die, and want to avoid that. So, my doctor prescribed a sting kit for me, which I carry in my vehicle or day pack all the time. Should I ever have a reaction I can stick myself. But, should I come upon another person with a reaction and decide to stick him, I might save his life, but would be liable, and could be sued and/or prosecuted.

Once again, I'm not a Dr but I played a Medical Officer in the service, ParamedicPete is as expected right on the money. To treat any unconscious person for shock of any kind other than from an obvious injury is taking a major risk that the Good Samaritan Law will not automatically cover.
If the patient is conscious, they should be able to tell you if they need some sugar or medications (that they probably have in their pockets or purse).
That's my 2 cents worth for today!!

Well put Pete. The only thing that I could add is to calmly talk with the patient, and get the Pros there. People die of shock. It is not something that should be taken lightly. There are a lot of DON'Ts. Don't give them water or anything by mouth unless they are in hypoglycemic / insulin shock and they are able to speak and swallow. Do not move the person unless they are in immediate danger and do not forget that there is something that caused the shock and to treat that as well. Hypovelemic shock (loss of blood) will not reverse itself if the person continues to bleed. You get the idea. I recommend a basic first aid or a first responder course. Both are short in length and are full of information that can be used more often then you realize. Above all else common sence rules when making descisions in a medical emergency.

Absolutely agree with Pete, but I want to add my $.02

1) Shock is due to injury of some sort. Severe emotional distress (e.g. Acute Stress Disorder or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or hysteria) is not shock. Nothing like shock, psychologically or physiologically.

2)The only medication ever to give, in the emergency setting, for Psychological "trauma" or "shock" is calm reassurance. No medications are helpful unless the patient absolutely must be sedated emergently to prevent further physical injury. Any medication given to tranquilize a psychologically agitated person may also depress CNS function and may increase risk.

Possibly, as anyone can sue for almost any reason, whether they would win or not is another matter. Still the hassle of having to defend your actions can be both expensive financially and emotionally.

It is unlikely, if you saved the life or was perceived to have saved the life of the person experiencing anaphylaxis from a bee sting (or other allergen) you would be prosecuted.

With asthma and allergies so common now a day, Epipens along with aspirin are likely some of the most widely distributed life-saving medications out in the general public, I would suspect that in most cases where someone gives such medical care and the outcome was positive, that most jurisdictions would simply ignore the “minor legalities” of a lay-person doing so in which they saved someone’s life or increased their chances for survival. But then you never know.

Pete

thanks for the tip pete.

I understand that there is a difference between physical and emotional shock. What I would hate to see is some lay person ASSUMING that a victim is in emotional shock. I would bet that symptoms of both kinds can mimic the other. I'm sure that "invisible" physical trauma does exist, and lay people have no business making a diagnosis between the two kinds. Just because the person is breathing and blood isn't pouring out is no indication that the problem is "only" emotional trauma.

The victim should be kept quiet and warm, and medical assistance should be called ASAP. No judgments as to cause really need to be made. Let medical personnel do that.

Sue

is it necessary to cover a trauma shock person with survival blanket? I am referring to the silver lined blanket.
would a trauma person loose a great deal of body heat?