Which sign of shock will appear last in a patient?

Study for the NOLS Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician (WEMT) Test with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each offering hints and explanations. Prepare for your exam confidently!

In the context of shock, decreased blood pressure is a critical sign that generally appears later than the other symptoms listed. When a person is experiencing shock, the body initially responds to preserve vital functions. It does so through compensatory mechanisms, which include an increased heart rate, increased respiratory rate, and maintaining blood flow to essential organs.

As shock progresses and the body becomes less able to compensate for the lack of perfusion and oxygenation, blood pressure begins to drop. This can indicate a more severe state of shock, suggesting that the body's compensatory mechanisms are failing. Therefore, decreased blood pressure is typically one of the last indicators to manifest in a shock scenario, signaling a level of critical distress that requires immediate intervention.

In contrast, increased heart rate, pale cool skin, and increased respiratory rate are earlier signs the body uses to try to counteract the effects of shock, reflecting an immediate physiological response to inadequate perfusion. Thus, the recognition that decreased blood pressure arises later in the progression of shock is crucial for timely medical intervention.

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