What to do for a nosebleed — Health, 11–13 years
A calm, effective response to an ordinary nosebleed, plus the signs that mean an adult or emergency service is needed.
A nosebleed
Most nosebleeds start when tiny blood vessels in the moist front part of the nose break. Dry air, rubbing, picking, a knock or a cold can irritate them. The sight of blood can be alarming, but an ordinary nosebleed often stops with steady pressure and does not mean the whole body is losing a dangerous amount of blood.
Why pressure works
Pressure presses the damaged vessel walls together, giving a clot time to form. The problem is that people often tilt the head back, swallow blood and cannot see whether bleeding has stopped. Leaning slightly forward keeps blood out of the throat; pinching the soft part of the nose targets the likely source.
The steps
Jamie’s nose starts bleeding after rubbing it. Jamie sits upright, leans a little forward and breathes through the mouth. An adult pinches the soft part of the nose firmly for ten minutes without checking every few seconds. Jamie spits out blood rather than swallowing it. If bleeding continues after another careful attempt, or followed a serious injury, the adult seeks medical help.
The head-back trap
Tilting the head back is a reasonable mistake because it seems to stop blood from appearing on the face. It actually lets blood run into the throat, which can cause coughing, nausea or swallowing. Sitting forward looks less tidy, but it keeps the airway clearer and lets someone see what is happening.
At home and in sport
The same response is useful at home, school or after a ball hits the nose in sport. Keep calm, use pressure and ask an adult rather than stuffing tissues deep into the nose. Repeated nosebleeds, bleeding with unusual bruising, blood-thinning medicine, or bleeding that will not stop should be discussed with a health professional.
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