24/10/2026
💊🩸 MEDICATION AWARENESS: WARFARIN (BLOOD THINNER) 🩸💊
💜💙 Premiercare (Midlands) Ltd – Compassionate Care, Every Time.
Warfarin is an anticoagulant medicine that helps prevent blood clots. However, it increases the risk of bleeding, so it is important for carers to recognise the warning signs and act promptly.
🔎 POSSIBLE WARNING SIGNS TO LOOK OUT FOR:
🩸 Unexplained bruising or bruises that are getting bigger
🩸 Frequent or prolonged nosebleeds
🩸 Bleeding gums
🩸 Blood in urine
🩸 Blood in stools or black, tar-like stools
🩸 Vomiting blood or coughing up blood
🩸 Bleeding that takes longer than usual to stop
🩸 Unusual or severe headaches
🩸 Dizziness, confusion, unusual weakness or looking unusually pale
🚨 WHAT SHOULD CARERS DO?
🔴 CALL 999 IMMEDIATELY if the client has:
* Heavy bleeding that will not stop.
* A suspected stroke: facial drooping, arm weakness or slurred speech.
* A sudden severe headache with confusion, weakness or reduced consciousness.
* A serious injury, or a fall or blow to the head while taking warfarin, requiring emergency assessment.
🟠 CONTACT THE DISTRICT NURSE for new or unexplained bruising, blood in urine or stools, prolonged nosebleeds or other unusual bleeding. If urgent advice is unavailable, contact NHS 111.
🔵 INFORM THE PREMIERCARE OFFICE as soon as possible, following company procedures. Record and report what you observed, when it started, and the actions taken. Never delay calling 999 to notify the office.
✅ REMEMBER:
* Stay with the client and monitor their condition.
* Follow emergency call-handler instructions.
* Tell healthcare professionals that the client takes warfarin.
* Do not change or stop the client’s warfarin dose unless instructed by the appropriate prescriber or clinician.
* Document and hand over all concerns in line with company policy.
💗 Early recognition and prompt action can help protect the people we care for.
