MOST parents will carry around a rudimentary first aid kit for their accident-prone youngsters, even if it just contains some plasters and antiseptic.
But a first aider has recommended parents add a red cloth to their kit.
A red cloth will help hide any blood if your little one panics are the site of it
First aider Sarah Hunstead demonstrated how blood shows up on different coloured clothsSarah Hunstead/CPR Kids
The addition will be especially helpful if your little one is prone to nosebleeds or hates the sight off blood, paediatric nurse Sarah Hunstead said.
Posting to the CPR Kids platform on Instagram, Sarah a red cloth will help hid the sight of blood.
“If you or your little one don’t like the sight of blood or if your little one completely freaks out at even a drop, these are a necessity,” she wrote.
The nurse demonstrated their use by placing a red and whit wash cloth next to each other and pouring a small amount of red liquid on each.
While the liquid stood out brightly against the white cloth, it faded into the red one.
Red wash cloths “can really help with the fear and anxiety some little (and big) ones get from seeing blood, which helps to make dealing with nose bleeds or cuts easier,” Sarah said.
She added: “If your little one has regular nose bleeds and can’t stand the sight of blood, stock up on a few!”
Sarah previously shared some tips on how to deal with a nosebleed, saying it’s key to try and calm and reassure your child when this happens as crying will only make the bleeding worse.
The first thing to do, she said, is to sit your child upright in a comfortable position, and lean slightly forward.
Posting to the CPR Kids Facebook page, Sarah said you should then squeeze the lower, soft part of the nose – pressing the nostrils together with your fingers for 10 minutes.
Kids can do this themselves if they’re a bit older, but it’s important that you or they don’t keep removing your fingers until the 10 minutes are up.
Parents should also encourage their children to spit out any blood that may have dripped from their nose into their mouth.
This, Sarah said is because swallowing blood might make your child vomit – which in turn can make the bleeding worse.
Keep squeezing for another 10 minutes if they bleeding doesn’t stop, she continued.
But if you’ve administered all the first aid you can and you little one’s nose is still bleeding, then you could go to the nearest emergency department, the first aider added.
The NHS demonstrated where exactly you should place your fingers on a child’s nose if they get a nosebleed.
Speaking to The Sun, first aider Kate Ball said all parents and caregivers need to know a few key first aid skills, including how to treat burns, cuts, grazes and bumps and how to perform CPR.
She recommends carrying a mini first aid kit with you, containing plasters and antibacterial wipes just in case.
Meanwhile, St John Ambulance shared it’s ultimate guide to first aid for parents and carers.