First Aid 8

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HOW TO STOP NOSEBLEEDS

1) Sit quietly

2) Pinch the nose firmly for 10 minutes or until the bleeding has stopped. Tell the person to breathe through the mouth.

If this does not stop the bleeding...

Pack the nostril with a wad of cotton leaving part of it outside the nose. If possible, first wet the cotton with hydrogen peroxide, Vaseline, or lidocaine with epinephrine.
Then pinch the nose firmly again. Do not let go for 10 minutes or more.

Leave the cotton in place for a few hours after the bleeding stops; then take it out very carefully.

If a person's nose bleeds often, smear a little vaseline inside the nostrils twice a day.

Eating oranges, tomatoes, and other fruits may help to strengthen the veins so that the nose bleeds less.

In older persons especially, bleeding may come from the back part of the nose and cannot be stopped by pinching it. In this case, have the person hold a cork, corn cob, or other similar object between his teeth and, leaning forward, sit quietly and try not to swallow until bleeding stops. ( The cork helps keep him from swallowing, and that gives the blood a chance to clot.)

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