Kiddipedia

Kiddipedia

A nosebleed can happen at any time or place and for some children it can happen on a regular basis.. Most nosebleeds are harmless, only causing minor discomfort as they often appear far worse than what they actually are. First Aid educational company, First Aid For You – is providing tips for parents if they’re confronted with a child who is experiencing a nosebleed.

 

Some of the most common causes of nosebleeds are;

  1. Any sort of impact to the nose region, whether it be your child falling head first or coming into contact with a hard object.
  2. A sudden change in temperature – a dry climate or heated indoor area can irritate and dry out the nasal membrane.
  3. Common colds may also irritate the lining of the nose, bleeding occurring following repeated nose-blowing.
  4. And the most obvious of causes – too much picking or scratching.

 

How to manage when a nosebleed occurs:

  1. Make sure the area is safe. If it is not, proceed to move the child away from the problem or vice versa.
  2. Give the child a piece of material to help collect the blood (Tip: In an emergency, any piece of material will suffice – such as a school hat or t-shirt).
  3. Ask the child to tilt their head forwards, NOT backwards.
  4. Ask the child to place two of their fingers firmly on the soft part of their nose.
  5. Hold firmly until the bleeding stops.
  6. Sometimes ice can help – place on the back of the neck or forehead, but remove if it is too cold or wrap in a tea towel.
  7. Once the bleeding has stopped, refrain from cleaning the nose for at least 15 minutes.

 

What NOT to do:

  1. Tilting the child’s head backwards – this forces the blood to travel down to the stomach and they can swallow the blood which can lead to more issues!
  2. Do not attempt to clean the nose straight away.
  3. Have the child relax afterwards, discouraging any nose-blowing, picking, rubbing, or rough play. Sitting the child down and reading a story and watching a DVD is often good distraction.

 

Nosebleeds are usually easily managed and don’t often require an ambulance, but if you believe the child’s nose may be broken, it continues to bleed, or the child becomes very sick – promptly call 000 for further assistance.

These tips are only recommendations, and medical advice should be sought for serious conditions.

Visit First Aid For You online: www.firstaidforyou.com.au. A “kid” friendly video on nosebleeds is available, if you’re interested in viewing this video please contact Brooke Simmons at Pursuit Communications 0407780710 or brooke@pursuitcommunications.com.au

 

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