Now you might be thinking that information on stopping nosebleeds in
TEOTWAWKI really isn't all that essential. I'd be totally with you on
that. I've had exactly one nosebleed in my life, one little drip that
would have dried before it got to my lips when I was pregnant with my
second child.
However, it's a totally different situation with my husband and two of
our children. They get absolute gushers several times per year, and I'm
sure it's hereditary for them. My husband's grandmother actually ended
up in the ER once or twice due to nosebleeds that they couldn't stop at
home, and that's why I think a little info on stopping nosebleeds
during TEOTWAWKI should be mentioned.
In the ER, when Grandma went to the hospital 30-40 years ago, a tiny amount of cocaine was often used when all other attempts failed. I'm pretty sure cocaine is going to be hard to come by, and regardless, it would just be a bad idea for untrained people to attempt. So let's look at some other, more feasible options.
First, consider the cause of the nosebleed. In younger people, nosebleeds often occur due to trauma (a fight and getting punched in the nose), a minor infection, dry air, or nose-picking. The bleeding is usually from the front of the nose.
In older people, the bleeding more likely a result of high blood pressure. It issues from the back of the nose, and as such is more difficult to treat.
Treatment
In the ER, when Grandma went to the hospital 30-40 years ago, a tiny amount of cocaine was often used when all other attempts failed. I'm pretty sure cocaine is going to be hard to come by, and regardless, it would just be a bad idea for untrained people to attempt. So let's look at some other, more feasible options.
First, consider the cause of the nosebleed. In younger people, nosebleeds often occur due to trauma (a fight and getting punched in the nose), a minor infection, dry air, or nose-picking. The bleeding is usually from the front of the nose.
In older people, the bleeding more likely a result of high blood pressure. It issues from the back of the nose, and as such is more difficult to treat.
Treatment
- For all nosebleeds:
- Blow all clots out of the nose. This is only at the beginning of treatment. Blowing them out after treatment may cause the nose to start bleeding again.
- Have the patient lean forward, breathe through the mouth, and sit quietly until the bleeding stops.[1]
- Have the patient hold a cork or similar object between the teeth to prevent the patient from swallowing and give the blood a chance to clot.[2] Blood in the stomach may irritate the stomach and cause nausea and vomiting.[3]
- For younger patients and those likely bleeding from the front of the nose:
- Spray Afrin up the nose.[4]
- Apply direct pressure by pinching the nose firmly, just below the bone, for 15 minutes.
- Apply an ice pack to the side that is bleeding. The cold may constrict the blood vessels enough to reduce bleeding.[5]
- For older patients and those with heavy bleeding, especially from the back of the nose:
- Pack the nose with one of the following:
- Specially-designed Quikclot or Celox for nosebleeds. It is expensive and unnecessary, as regular gauze will work fine.
- Ribbon gauze packed in. Leave the packing material in for 48 hours.[6]
- Vaseline gauze. DIY is fine, like what is made for burns. Leave the packing material in for 48 hours.[7]
- A little bit of gauze soaked in epinephrine (like from an Epi-pen) and packed in the nose (use blunt-tipped tweezers to insert packing material).[8]
- A few drops of geranium essential oil on gauze packed into the nostril. [9]
- Powdered yarrow leaves[9.1]
- Administer an antibiotic like amoxicillin, if available, for three days to cover the risk of infection from the packing material.[10]
- Spread a little Vaseline inside the nostrils twice per day
- Eat more oranges or tomatoes, or other foods high in vitamin C, regularly to strengthen veins so that nosebleeds occur less frequently
- Use bugleweed (Lycopus americanus) to reduce the frequency of chronic nosebleeds.[11]
DIY vaseline gauze
Epinephrine
Afrin
Amoxicillin
References:
[1] David Werner, Where There Is No Doctor, 83; Joseph Alton, The Survival Medicine Handbook, 434.
[2] Where There Is No Doctor, 83.
[3] The Survival Medicine Handbook, 434.
[4] Survival and Austere Medicine, 3rd Edition, 184; The Survival Medicine Handbook, 434.
[5] The Survival Medicine Handbook, 434.
[6] Survival and Austere Medicine, 3rd Edition, 184.
[7] Ibid.
[8] The Survival Medicine Handbook, 434.
[9] Ibid.
[9.1] https://www.doomandbloom.net/treating-nosebleeds/
[10] Survival and Austere Medicine, 3rd Edition, 184.
[11] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 99-100.
[10] Survival and Austere Medicine, 3rd Edition, 184.
[11] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 99-100.
8 july 2020
My mom had severe nose bleeds in her later years. They would just start randomly.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this information.
Please avoid Vaseline in the nose for moisturizer, it can cause petroleum pneumonia. Use something the body can break down, such as lanolin. Ice to the back of the neck as well as the nose sometimes helps.
ReplyDeleteThat's the recommendation from some medical professionals (Survival and Austere Medicine authors, see footnote above). Even medical professionals have differences of opinion at times on the best treatment. It would be nice if everyone agreed on everything. Thank you for your input.
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