27.07.2021

Nosebleed

Photo: Joonas Brandt / Suomen Punainen Risti

Nosebleeds are usually harmless and can be treated at home.

Sometimes, however, bleeding may be so profuse that medical care is required.

A nosebleed can be caused by the excessive blowing of one's nose, dry mucous membranes in the nose or a blow to the nose. Symptoms of a nosebleed include bleeding from one or both nostrils and nausea.

First aid for a nosebleed

1. Ask the person helped to sit down and lean forward. This prevents the blood from flowing to the throat. 

2. Ask the person to blow their nose clear of any clotted blood.

3. Push the bleeding nostril to the nasal cartilage for approximately 15 minutes.

Photo: Joonas Brandt / Finnish Red Cross

4. If the bleeding does not stop, help the person to medical care.

Call the general emergency number 112 in an emergency.

Follow these instructions when making the emergency call

First aid instructions: removing a foreign object