by claire coshan

Created on: December 28, 2010

If a child has a nosebleed then it can be very upsetting for them. But if a parent or adult does not know how to deal with the nosebleed properly then it can be scary for them as well. There are countless myths and old wives tales surrounding the treatment of nosebleeds. And this is what makes it very hard to know what to do for the best.

But there are a few simple rules you should follow when caring for a child's nosebleed.

Do not have the child tilt their head back. This is one of the most common myths when it comes to the treatment of nosebleeds and it is possibly the most dangerous. If the child tips their head back then this will result in blood running through their nasal passages and down their throat which can be incredibly dangerous.

Never leave a child unattended when they are having a nosebleed. They need constant attention until the bleed has stopped for at least fifteen minutes. If they tilt their head back it could result in them choking or drowning. And there is a very large possibility that they will try and stuff something up their nose in order to stop the flow of blood. This can result in serious damage to the nasal passages. 

Many people think that in order to stop a nosebleed you need to pinch the soft, flashy part of the nostrils. This is not true. All this will do is allow the blood to travel down and collect in the nostrils. This means that when you release the nostrils you will be met by a sudden gushing of blood.

The place where you should pinch is just above the soft fleshy part of your nostrils. Feel the sides of your nose and notice where your nose becomes hard, this is the part you should pinch.

Do not pinch them too hard. This will not make the nosebleed stop any quicker. You should apply a firm but even pressure but you should not be causing the child any kind of pain. 

There is no standard time that a nosebleed will last. Each one will vary from child to child. It could be two minutes, it could be ten. But if their nosebleed has not stopped in thirty minutes after you have been pinching the correct place then you need to consult a medical professional. They will advise you on what to do next.

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