How to stop a bloody nose
It was one of those mornings. My kids got ready early, all excited for summer camp, wearing their matching camp shirts.
We got a bit of a late start, but took a detour to avoid traffic and were almost to our destination. When....I looked in the rear-view mirror and saw my son looking like something out of Friday the 13th. He had a major nosebleed.
I pulled over quickly, tilted his head back briefly to keep the blood from running everywhere (including further onto the beloved shirt) and pinched his nose to stop the bleeding. Once the bleeding had stopped and my daughter had gotten over the fact that blood had even flecked on the car window, we headed home for a more comprehensive cleanup and a new shirt.
Once I got to work, I surfed around the Web to see if I had done the right things. According to Kidshealth, which was created by the Nemours Foundation's Center for Children's Health Media, I went about it all wrong. (And, not surprisingly, he had another, smaller bleed later that morning.)
I should have had him sit up and tilted his head forward, not back, which can cause a child to gag or even vomit. I should have pinched the soft part of the nose just below the bridge for at least 10 minutes (my doctor recommended 15 when we called her) to stop the bleeding. No rushing allowed.
I think I knew some of these things, but forgot in the heat of the moment. So here's a handy instruction sheet from KidsHealth you might want to print. I may keep it in my car.
Comments
As a young teenager, around 13 yrs old, I suffered from very frequent nosebleeds. And I'm talking huge, gushing, going through a whole box of kleenex nosebleeds. It was horrible. This lasted a couple of years before I eventually out grew them, and I haven't had one since. Anyway, through all of these, I learned the best method of all to stop a nosebleed - applying pressure to the spot under your upper lip on your gums above your two front teeth. There is a pressure point there that stops nosebleeds, even the heaviest, very quickly. And since it's hard to keep your finger there for too long, you can take a small piece of kleenex, paper towel, whatever, and roll it up and moisten it and just stick it up there and let it apply the pressure for you. I know this sounds weird and the person will look a little weird, but it really works. Try it the next time someone has a bloody nose.
Posted by: SZ | June 17, 2008 2:58 PM
Yup, I had a nose-bleeder, too. The good news is that your son will probably outgrow this eventually.
I do have one question about the tip sheet, which suggests putting petroleum jelly around the nose. I have read somewhere recently that this is not a good idea. Can anyone confirm or refute this?
Posted by: Dahlink | June 17, 2008 4:21 PM
If you have a frequent nose-bleeder, no need to suffer for years. My son had enormous nose-bleeds, but a quick cauterization of the blood vessels in his nose that were too close to the surface cured the problem once and for all! Check with an ear, nose, and throat specialist. The procedure can often be done on the spot, in the doctor's office.
Posted by: Baltomommie | June 18, 2008 9:22 AM
Yes, our pediatrician offered cauterization, but my son didn't like the idea of what he envisioned as a red hot poker in the nose for some reason.
Posted by: Dahlink | June 18, 2008 3:02 PM
Gut!
Posted by: berlin | February 27, 2009 9:51 AM
I recently read that dropping a bunch of keys down the bleeder's neck will stop the bleeding. If anyone tries this I'd love to know if it works!
Posted by: Dahlink | February 27, 2009 4:50 PM