Nosebleeds and Scraped Knees: Station Protocols

Rotating stations to handle the two most common incidents in PE class: nosebleeds and minor scrapes. It includes putting on and taking off gloves without contaminating yourself, because hygiene protects both the helper and the person being helped.

How to play

1. Explain the three stations and form groups (2 min).
2. Glove station: put them on, 'get them dirty' with washable marker, and remove them without touching the outside (5 min).
3. Nose station: seat your partner, tilt the head forward and pinch the soft part of the nose; in a real nosebleed you hold it for about 10 minutes without letting go (5 min).
4. Wound station: on an orange with a painted 'scrape', rinse with clean running water, pat dry with gauze and cover with an adhesive bandage (5 min).
5. Review: when to get an adult or call 911 (bleeding that won't stop, a deep wound, a hard hit to the head) (3 min).

Rules

• Gloves on at every station where you touch 'the wound'.
• Head always forward, never back.
• No cotton balls on wounds: they leave fibers.
• Used supplies go straight into the trash bag.

Variations

Adaptations

• Students with a latex allergy: nitrile gloves for the whole group.
• Students with visual impairments: practice with hand-over-hand guidance and check steps by touch.
• Students who are squeamish about blood: start at the glove station and lead by reading the step card.

Learning goals

• Respond correctly to a nosebleed.
• Clean and cover a minor wound.
• Use gloves for hygiene and self-protection.

Equipment for a class of 25

• disposable gloves: 60
• gauze pads: 40
• adhesive bandages: 30
• water bottles: 4
• oranges: 6
• washable markers: 6

Teacher tip

Ask for oranges, or use old balls wrapped in tape if you have no fruit. Common mistake: tilting the head back; explain that blood runs down the throat and can cause vomiting.

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