Where There Is No Doctor 2011 83
HOW TO STOP NOSEBLEEDS
1. Sit quietly and upright.
2. Blow the nose gently to remove
mucus and blood.
3. Have the person pinch the nose
firmly for 10 minutes or until the
bleeding has stopped.
If this does not control the bleeding . . .
Pack the nostril with a wad of
cotton, leaving part of it outside
the nose. If possible, first wet the
cotton with Vaseline or lidocaine
with epinephrine (p. 379).
Then pinch the nose
firmly again. Do not let go
for 10 minutes or more. Do not tip the
head back.
Leave the cotton in place for a few hours after the bleeding stops; then take it out
very carefully.
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 the bleeding stops. (The cork
helps keep him from swallowing, and that
gives the blood a chance to clot.)
Prevention:
If a person’s nose bleeds often, smear a
little Vaseline inside the nostrils twice a day. Or sniff water with a little salt in it
(see p. 164).
Eating oranges, tomatoes, and other fruits may help to strengthen the veins so
that the nose bleeds less.