Which of the following statements about shock in children is FALSE?

The statement indicating that the absolute volume of blood loss required to produce shock is the same in children as in adults is false. In children, the physiological response to blood loss is different due to their smaller blood volume and different compensatory mechanisms. While adults can tolerate a larger volume of blood loss without showing signs of shock, children can progress to shock more rapidly with a smaller volume of blood loss. Specifically, a child may enter shock after losing about 25-30% of their total blood volume, which is significantly lower in absolute terms compared to adults, who may withstand greater blood loss before manifesting clinical signs of shock.

In contrast, the other statements are accurate. Vital signs in children do vary by age, reflecting developmental differences that impact normal ranges for heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate. Additionally, children possess greater physiological reserves than adults, allowing them to compensate for shock to some extent; however, this does not mean they are immune to its effects. Lastly, tachycardia is indeed a primary compensatory response in children to hypervolemia or hypovolemia, as their bodies try to maintain perfusion to vital organs in the face of changes in blood volume.