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Civilian Emergency Platform
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Blood or bloody fluid is draining from the ear, often after a head injury, fall, or blow.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — NOT EXPERT REVIEWED — NOT FOR PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Blood or pink fluid draining from one or both ears.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Recent fall, vehicle crash, or blow to the head.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Confusion, drowsiness, vomiting, unequal pupils, or weakness on one side.
Scene hazards: Falls, Traffic
Avoid moving the head and neck if injury followed a fall or crash.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112 or 108 immediately.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Have the person lie down with the bleeding ear facing down if comfortable — let fluid drain naturally.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do not block the ear canal.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Keep the person calm and still. Support their head.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Loosely place clean gauze or cloth over the ear to catch drainage — do not pack it inside.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Check if they know their name and what happened. Note any changes for paramedics.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Tell dispatch: "Blood from the ear after head injury" and whether the person is confused or vomiting.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Describe how the injury happened and current alertness level.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Blood from the ear after trauma requires emergency hospital assessment — do not wait to see if it stops.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Worsening drowsiness or vomiting after head injury means call 112 again immediately.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT insert cotton swabs, fingers, or ear drops into the ear.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT blow the nose forcefully if there was head trauma.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT assume it is only an ear infection without recent head injury.
MYTH: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Ear bleeding is usually just an ear infection
REALITY: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — After any head injury, ear bleeding may indicate skull or brain injury and needs emergency care.
DANGER: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Treating a possible brain injury as a minor ear problem.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Blood from the ear after a head injury can mean a skull fracture or internal injury — not a simple ear problem.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Clear or bloody fluid from the ear or nose after trauma is a warning sign that needs urgent hospital care.