Shock Treatment Toolbox Talk

Shock can happen after serious bleeding, burns, falls, crushing injuries, allergic reactions, heat illness, electrical contact, or major trauma. A worker may look pale, weak, confused, sweaty, cold, or dizzy, and the condition can become life-threatening if help is delayed.

This talk focuses on recognizing signs of shock, calling for emergency help, protecting the worker from further harm, and providing basic first aid within your training until responders arrive.

Why This Matters

• Shock means the body may not be getting enough blood and oxygen to vital organs.
• Shock can worsen quickly, even if the injury does not look severe at first.
• Workers may try to stand, walk, or return to work while their condition is getting worse.
• Early action can help prevent collapse, loss of consciousness, or death.
• Clear communication helps responders understand what happened and what symptoms are present.

Common Hazards

• Severe bleeding from cuts, amputations, crush injuries, or puncture wounds.
• Falls, struck-by incidents, caught-between injuries, trench incidents, or equipment impacts.
• Major burns, chemical exposure, electrical shock, or arc flash.
• Heat illness, dehydration, allergic reactions, or sudden medical conditions.
• A worker sitting or lying down after an injury, then becoming pale, sweaty, confused, or weak.
• Crowds gathering around the injured worker and blocking air flow, first aid, or responder access.
• A worker who says they are fine after a serious incident but later becomes dizzy, cold, nauseated, or unable to focus.

Safety Checklist

Before Work Begins

• Know who on the crew is trained in first aid, CPR, AED use, and bleeding control.
• Locate the nearest first aid kit, trauma supplies, AED, phone, radio, and emergency contact list.
• Confirm the site address, gate location, and best route for emergency responders.
• Review high-risk tasks that could cause major injury, blood loss, burns, electric shock, or heat illness.
• Make sure workers know to report dizziness, weakness, confusion, chest pain, breathing trouble, or feeling faint right away.

During Work

• Stop work and check the scene for hazards before approaching the worker.
• Call emergency services for suspected shock, serious injury, severe bleeding, major burns, electrical contact, collapse, or worsening symptoms.
• Have the worker lie still if it is safe and comfortable, and do not let them walk around.
• Control severe bleeding with direct pressure or trained bleeding control methods.
• Keep the worker warm with a coat or blanket, but do not overheat them.
• Do not give food or drink to a worker showing signs of shock.
• Monitor breathing, level of alertness, skin color, and symptoms until emergency responders arrive.

Crew Talking Points

• What injuries or conditions on today’s job could lead to shock?
• Who on this crew is trained in first aid, CPR, AED use, or bleeding control?
• Where are the first aid kit, trauma supplies, AED, phone, radio, and emergency contact list?
• What are the warning signs that a worker may be going into shock?
• How will responders reach our exact work area today?
• Speak up if you are unsure how to recognize shock, who to call, or where emergency supplies are located.

Stop Work If

• A worker is pale, cold, sweaty, confused, weak, dizzy, faint, or has rapid breathing after an injury or illness.
• There is severe bleeding, major trauma, burns, electrical contact, allergic reaction, heat illness, or collapse.
• The worker loses consciousness, has trouble breathing, or becomes less responsive.
• The area is unsafe due to equipment, traffic, electrical hazards, fire, chemicals, unstable ground, or falling materials.
• The crew cannot contact emergency services or direct responders to the injured worker.

Final Reminder

Shock is a serious emergency. Stop work, call for help, keep the worker still and warm, control bleeding, and monitor them until responders arrive.