First Aid for Nose Bleeds

So there’s blood flowing out of your nose and you don’t know what to do? There’s been no injury, why did you bleed? What’s gone wrong? Is it a brain haemorrhage? Oh my God, are you gonna collapse now?

Relax! Nosebleeds are common in this dry weather. Seven year old Ahren has been bleeding from the nose quite often during the last couple of weeks. It’s a common thing in Delhi’s hot summers. So first of all, relax and stay calm. The dry heat results in drying and other changes in the nose that make it more susceptible to bleeding. Other factors that predispose a person to nosebleeds include:

·         Infections
·         Injury (even the slightest amount...as self-induced  by nose picking)
·         Allergic inflammation of the nose
·         High blood pressure
·         Use of some blood thinning medicines
·         Less commonly, tumors or inherited bleeding disorder

Okay...okay...so it most probably is not a serious concern....But what does one do when the nose bleeds?

First and foremost...relax...don’t panic.

Teach your little one to do this the moment he notices a nose bleed. This is the most effective first aid for a common nosebleed.

·         Pinch the soft parts of your nose together between your thumb and your index finger.
·         Press against the bones of your face.
·         Lean forward slightly with your head tilted. This prevents blood from entering your sinuses and throat.
·         Hold the nose pinched for five minutes. Repeat till the bleeding stops.
·         Do not lie down or put your head between your legs. Sit up quietly for a while.
·         Wrap an ice cube in a towel/hanky and apply to the nose and cheeks.

So, you see...It’s so easy a first aid that your child will love knowing how to care of himself. Ahren now knows what to do if his nose bleeds. And he is proud of it. He just informs me his nose bled but does not panic anymore. He knows a simple pinch can do wonders.

If you must, then use a hypotonic saline drop (available with your chemist) to keep the nostrils wet and avoid dryness. At home or in school, teach your child to wash his face often and dampen his nostrils to keep them from drying.