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Bleeding and nosebleeds

Dr Chris Brown advises you on how to handle bleeding and nosebleeds

What to do if someone is bleeding

• The first priority is to try to stop the flow of blood as soon as you can by applying direct pressure to the bleeding area.
• Small blood vessels usually stop bleeding, forming a clot on the surface, within a few minutes. The area should then be covered with a fabric-type plaster.
• Deeper cuts in veins produce dark blood that tends to seep out slowly and steadily. Stop it by applying gentle pressure directly onto the wound itself. Then cover it with a sterile or clean cloth (the inside of a laundered handkerchief would do) and a bandage. This type of wound may need to be stitched or glued after your first aid treatment.
• Bleeding from an artery could cause death within a few minutes, so urgent action is vital. This type of bleeding pulsates and squirts blood in time with the pulse. The blood is bright red in colour.
• To stop arterial bleeding, apply firm pressure directly to the wound and keep this up continually until medical help arrives. You can press with a sterile cloth if you have one to hand, but in an emergency, anything is better than nothing. If there is nothing else available you must use your hand.
• If you do apply a dressing or a bandage and blood soaks through, press harder until the bleeding stops. Do not remove your first dressings – just apply another on top as necessary.
• If you encourage the person to lie down, preferably with the head lower than the rest of their body, this will help to reduce the blood pressure – which reduces the bleeding, too – but keeps a continuing supply of oxygen flowing to the brain.
• Do not attempt to clean this type of wound. Stemming the flow of blood is your only concern in this emergency situation. Arterial bleeding will need urgent treatment from a doctor.

> What to do if someone has a nose bleed

• Nosebleeds normally occur when small blood vessels inside the nostril burst(through blowing the nose, sneezing, picking, etc.)
• Sit the subject down with the head held forward. Do not let the head tip back, as this increases bleeding and also leads to swallowing of blood which can lead to vomiting.
• Ask the subject to mouth breathe, and pinch the nose shut just below the bridge with the thumb and index fingers for at least ten minutes.
• Tell them to try not to speak, swallow, cough, spit, or sniff.
• If the nosebleed continues, you must seek advice from a doctor.
• Frequent, sudden and severe nosebleeds usually need to be treated at hospital.

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