An 86-year-old female has called 911 for rectal bleeding. There is a large amount of dark red blood and clots in the toilet and on the patient's clothing. The Emergency Medical Responder reports a blood pressure of 84/68 mmHg with a heart rate of 124 beats per minute. Given this information, the EMT should recognize:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient's blood pressure of 84/68 mmHg indicates a narrowed pulse pressure, which suggests possible shock due to the significant amount of bleeding. The elevated heart rate of 124 beats per minute is also a sign of the body's compensatory response to compensate for the decreased blood volume. These findings are consistent with hypovolemic shock, which is a potentially life-threatening condition requiring immediate medical attention.

An 86-Year-Old Female Has Called 911 for Rectal Bleeding