Nose bleeds can occur as a result of allergies, trauma or medications. Candice Dunkin, manager, athletic trainers, Parkview Sports Medicine, walks us through the proper procedure for getting the bleeding under control, safely.
1. Protect yourself and the patient by using gloves to avoid the transferring of fluids. Gauze pads, tissues or toilet paper are beneficial to absorb the blood.
2. Apply direct pressure to the base of the patient’s nose for 10 seconds. Have the patient tip their head forward so they don’t swallow the fluids.
3. Release to see if the bleeding has stopped.
4. If the bleeding won’t stop, put an ice pack on the bridge of the nose. Be sure to use gauze or another barrier so the cold isn’t directly on the skin.
A few notes of caution
- The patient should not blow their nose for 2-3 hours following the incident.
- If the bleeding starts again within 2-3 hours, and there was no new trauma, seek additional treatment.
- Any time there’s trauma, seek medical care.
