Dwayne checks an injured athlete and realizes that her pulse is too high, and her blood pressure is decreasing. What does this MOST likely indicate?

A rapid pulse together with falling blood pressure can indicate shock: the body speeds up the heartbeat to compensate for reduced blood volume and circulation. In an injured athlete, internal bleeding is a likely cause of that blood loss, so “There is internal bleeding” is the best answer. Airway blockage, unconsciousness, and nerve damage do not best explain this combination of signs.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.