First aid brushup: Wound management - Bleeding from the nose

Identification

Blood noses are unlikely to be a serious problem, but may be upsetting to young children.

Management

Encourage the patient to sit up and lean their head forward slightly.  If possible, they should pinch the soft part of the nose for about 10 minutes, and breathe through their mouth.  Blowing the nose is not recommended.






The casualty's collar and/or tie should be loosened and cool wet towels (or an icepack wrapped in a towel) should be placed around the neck or on the forehead.






If the nose bleeds for longer than 15-20 minutes, medical review may be wise.

Acknowledgement

As with other posts in this series, the information supplied is from Kym Eden's Fun with First Aid (2013).