NREMT Paramedic Practice

Which of the following is NOT a symptom of shock?

1. High heart rate

2. Low blood pressure

3. Elevated temperature

4. High respiratory rate

The correct answer is: Elevated temperature

In the context of shock, the primary symptoms typically include a high heart rate, low blood pressure, and an increased respiratory rate. These are physiological responses as the body tries to compensate for reduced perfusion and oxygen delivery to tissues. Elevated temperature, on the other hand, is not a typical symptom of shock. While shock can occur alongside infections or inflammatory conditions that may cause a fever, the presence of an elevated temperature is not a direct symptom of shock itself. In fact, shock usually presents with cool, clammy skin due to vasoconstriction and a decreased ability of the body to regulate temperature appropriately. Therefore, recognizing that elevated temperature does not align with the core symptoms of shock helps distinguish it from the other options, which are indeed indications of the body's struggle to maintain hemodynamic stability in response to a critical condition.