The two most common first aid issues with noses and children are either items being wedged up there or having a nose bleed!
From a very early age children are taught to shape sort, we even buy them toys to work out what shape should go into what hole! So it's no wonder that they often stick items in places we really don't want them! Plug sockets, in ears or up their nose to name a few...Would you know what to do if your child had an item stuck up their nose?
Lets face it blood should be on the inside, so when it makes its way out it can be scary and upsetting for both you and your little one.
Basic tips for a nose bleed in a child:
🔴 Stay calm
🔴 Sit them down with the head tipped forwards
🔴 Pinch the soft part of the nose (the bit at the bottom) for up to 10 minutes
🔴 Tell them no picking 👆🏻 or blowing 🤧
🔴 If it’s still bleeding after 30 minutes seek professional advice
WHAT??? 🤯 Thats right! We do NOT put the head backwards and we do NOT pinch the top of the nose!
Aim for the full 10 minutes if possible. Every time you release to take a look the blood has a chance to flow again. To stop the nose bleeding we need to create a clot.
Once you have sorted the bleeding do not ask them to blow their nose. No picking either (don't you just love kids)!
If your Childs nose will not stop bleeding after 30 minutes of the above treatment seek medical help or go to hospital.
Children also regularly stick things up their noses 👃
If this happens, in the first instance, encourage them to blow their nose as it may come out 🤧 Always in struct them to blow gently. This is because young children often breathe in rather than blow out!
If it appears lodged leave it where it is and take your child to A&E or a minor injuries unit.
Depending on your child’s age try and show them how to breathe through their mouth instead of their nose, try to keep them calm and try not to panic
Common objects found up noses:
👃 Beads
👃 Food - particularly small items like peas and sweetcorn
👃 Lego and other small toys
👃 Play doh
👃 Pebbles
👃 Sweets and popcorn
👃 Coins
👃 Pen lids
🔋if it is any kind of battery then this is an emergency as it can burn the inside of their nose or their stomach if they inhale it 🚨
If you attend A&E a Dr may look up your child’s nose with a light and they may need to do a CT scan if there is any concern that the item may be broken or be lodged
Whilst it maybe tempting to try other methods of removal if the above has not worked then you should always seek medical advice.
A doctor may talk you and the child through some other ways in which they may be able to remove in a non-invasive way.
If this is unsuccessful the Dr will try to remove the object with a special instrument. They may put some topical anaesthetic in your child’s nose first
Sometimes your child may develop an infection if you are unaware they have something stuck in there or if part of it is left behind - signs to look out for include:
👃 Fluid or discharge from the nose which smells unpleasant
👃 Nose bleed
👃 Pain in the nose or cheekbones
👃 Redness or swelling around the nose
👃 Feeling stuffy
👃 Whistling noises through the nose
If your child has any of these symptoms they may need antibiotics to treat the infection so must be seen by a health professional 💊🦠
The most important thing we can teach our children about noses is that we don’t put anything up them!!!!!!
