Erin Waterhause, age 14, of Providence, R.I., for her question:

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GO INTO SHOCK?

If you receive a blow, a wound, a burn or some other damage in an accident, your body can go into severe shock. Shock stuns and weakens the vital processes of the body. Control of blood flow is upset and you can become week and faint.

An hour later you can go into secondary shock. Here you may become even weaker and lose color. Blood pressure can drop and the pulse can become feeble. Breathing may become shallow and, blood vessels near the surface of the skin could collapse.

Shock must be treated by raising the patients feet higher than his head. This helps blood to reach the vital organs.

Further treatment should include complete rest and warmth. Doctors also at times recommend stimulating drugs and sometimes even blood plasma.