What should you do to prevent shock when treating a burn victim?

To effectively prevent shock when treating a burn victim, it is essential to reassure and keep them warm. Burns can lead to significant pain and anxiety, which can elevate the risk of shock. By providing reassurance, you help to calm the victim, reducing their stress and anxiety levels. This emotional support is vital, as a calm victim is less likely to panic, which can exacerbate physiological responses.

Keeping the victim warm is also crucial because burns can impair the body’s ability to regulate temperature, leading to potential hypothermia, especially if the person has extensive burns. Maintaining a warm environment or using blankets can prevent a drop in body temperature, which is critical in preventing shock.

Other options, while they may seem beneficial, do not directly address the immediate needs of preventing shock in the context of burn injuries. Providing fluids is important in certain situations, but it should be done carefully and typically only under medical guidance. Moving the victim or overly restricting movement can also cause additional stress and further complications, so these strategies are not as vital in shock prevention compared to reassurance and warmth.