British Red Cross: Learn first aid for a child who has a nosebleed

Nosebleeds are a common occurrence in childcare settings. During the summer, warmer temperatures, increased outdoor play, air conditioning and minor bumps or knocks can lead to a see a rise in nosebleeds. But there’s no need to worry as they aren’t usually serious.  

Here’s how to help if a child in your care has a nosebleed:

 1. Pinch the soft part of their nose and ask them to lean forward. 

Pinching the nose helps the blood clot. Leaning forward stops blood going into the airway or stomach.  
Ask them to breathe through their mouth and to spit out any blood into a tissue or bowl. 

2. Continue to pinch the soft part of their nose for ten minutes and if necessary, repeat this for two further periods of ten minutes. 

3. Seek medical attention if the bleeding continues for more than half an hour or if you have other concerns, such as the child having underlying medical conditions, or the nosebleed being the result of a bang to the head. 

Paediatric first aid training

Our flexible Paediatric First Aid training helps you stay compliant while minimising disruption to daily operations. Choose from face-to-face training at UK venues, onsite group training, or a blended option that combines six hours of self-paced online learning with a practical classroom day for assessments and hands-on skills training.

The information in this article is provided by the British Red Cross and does not represent Morton Michel.