In compensated hemorrhagic shock, the body activates sympathetic nervous system responses to maintain perfusion despite blood loss. This leads to tachycardia to increase cardiac output and vasoconstriction to preserve blood pressure. As a result, blood pressure remains normal initially. Hypotension and bradycardia indicate decompensation and circulatory failure, not compensation. Thus, the hallmark of compensated shock is normal blood pressure with tachycardia, reflecting effective physiological compensation to maintain tissue perfusion.

Reference: Tintinalli's Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide, 9th Edition.