Sure, if you get punched in the nose, it’s very likely that you’ll end up with a bloody nose. But what about spontaneous nose bleeds those sudden, worrisome bouts that seem to come from nowhere? Don’t worry. In most cases, those seemingly unprovoked nosebleeds are more annoying than dangerous.
Technically, a nosebleed occurs when the tissue lining the inside of the nose becomes irritated. These irritations can be caused by any of the following things:
- A dry nose caused by colds and sinus medicine.
- Excessive blowing from colds, flu, and allergies.
- Too much picking.
- Excessive use of nasal sprays.
If someone around you suddenly gets a nosebleed, don’t panic. Follow these steps for treatment:
- If possible, have the injured person sit in a chair, leaning forward very slightly. (Leaning forward keeps blood from going down the throat and causing respiratory problems.)
- Make sure the person doesn’t swallow any blood; it can make him or her gag or vomit. Instead, ask the victim to spit out any blood that pools in the mouth.
- Place a cold cloth on the nose. Have the person apply pressure on the nostrils with the thumb and forefinger, pinching the nostrils tightly for at least 10 minutes. If the victim is too weak to do so, apply the pressure yourself (taking care to wear protective gloves). When the cloth begins to become warm, rewet it with more cold water.
- After 10 minutes, slowly let go of the nose. If bleeding continues, roll two small pads of gauze to fit into each nostril. Insert them into the nose, making sure the ends of the gauze strips stick out for easy removal.
- Pinch the nostrils for another 10 minutes.
- Remove the gauze pads. If the person’s nose is still bleeding, seek medical assistance.
