More than twenty years ago, we got our first letter about using cold car keys against the back of the neck to stop nosebleeds. As you will see, we thought it was a bit bizarre.
Keys to Stop Nosebleeds?
Q. I know a lot of first aid, but I’ve never seen anything like this home remedy. A few years ago, a co-worker suddenly developed a major nosebleed. I tried ice, pressure and all the usual treatments, to no avail. The bleeding had me worried.
Another co-worker stopped, looked and said “Nose bleed, huh? Where are your car keys?”
I looked stupidly at her–car keys? Emmett handed her his huge key ring, she loosened the neck of his shirt and dropped the keys down his back. Within 30 seconds the bleeding stopped!
She said her grandmother had used this method for years. I’ve been thinking about it ever since and can’t find any logical explanation. If you have one, I’d sure like to read it!
A. Putting car keys down the back was the most bizarre nosebleed remedy we had heard. It made no sense to us. But we subsequently heard from dozens of people who’d had success with this home remedy. It seemed to help if the keys were big and cold, so we doubt if today’s small plastic car key fobs would do any good.
We did find a product on drugstore shelves that should work reliably, though. Biolife had recently introduced NosebleedQR for nosebleeds and UrgentQR (now WoundSeal) for cuts and scrapes. Both contain hydrophilic polymer powder combined with potassium salt. In one small study, the product stopped a nosebleed in less than a minute for most patients.
Nampons to Stop Nosebleeds
Q. I have had nose bleeds all my life. Some are minor, but some have been so severe that I have been taken to the emergency room. My veins have been cauterized several times. My pockets are always stuffed with tissues.
A few years ago, my ENT suggested using Afrin-soaked cotton balls in my nose to stop a bleed. This treatment was quite successful. However, I found “Nampons” (nosebleed plugs). They are small individually wrapped plugs with a clotting agent. They really work, and they’re so convenient. I keep them in my purse or pocket and am always prepared.
A. Thanks for alerting us to this interesting product. When the plug goes into a bleeding nostril, it expands to exert pressure on the affected blood vessel. It also absorbs blood. In addition, it contains a clotting agent called micro-oxidized cellulose. This product should be considerably more reliable to stop nosebleeds than car keys. One study found that a nanofiber hemostatic sponge containing oxidized cellulose nanofibers was more effective than a conventional hemostatic sponge in stopping bleeding (Carbohydrate Polymers, Aug. 1, 2025).
Citations
- Zhang Z et al, "Chitosan/oxidized cellulose composite nanofiber sponges: a rapid and effective hemostasis strategy for non-compressible hemorrhage." Carbohydrate Polymers, Aug. 1, 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2025.123655
