Medical students don’t know how to stop a nosebleed

If you end up in the A&E department with a bloody nose, beware.

According to a recent survey, most senior house officers (SHOs) – medical students – don’t know how to stop the bleeding.

Minimum requirements for a bleeding nose are a nasal speculum, suction facilities, a good light and nasal cautery. Yet, neither the available equipment or SHO training were adequate for dealing with this common emergency (J Laryngol Otol, 2002; 116: 597-600).