Long Beach Lifeguard EMR Practice Exam

During a nasal hemorrhage, the priority is to stop the bleed at the source while keeping the airway clear. Sit the person up and have them lean forward slightly so blood doesn’t drain into the throat, which also makes it easier to monitor the bleeding. Pinching the soft part of the nose with fingers for several minutes directly compresses the vessels in the front of the nose and helps form a clot. A cold compress on the bridge of the nose can tighten surrounding vessels and reduce bleeding. Tilting the head back should be avoided because it lets blood flow into the back of the throat, increasing the risk of choking, coughing, or swallowing blood, and it prevents effective application of pressure at the bleeding site. If bleeding lasts more than about 20 minutes, or there's heavy bleeding, signs of trouble, or the person is on blood thinners, seek medical care.