• Treat bleeds early and adequately. Be prepared. Recognize a bleed and seek treatment quickly.

• Know the early signs of bleeding and administer clotting factor concentrate as soon as an injury occurs. This will reduce the likelihood of complications, such as joint disease and other preventable disabilities.

• Know the signs of serious bleeding and consult your hemophilia treatment center for immediate and adequate treatment. Even minor head injuries in a person with severe hemophilia can create an acute intracranial hemorrhage.

• Always have a supply of clotting factor concentrate on-hand.

• Be prepared, treat early—take factor with you!

• There is a growing trend, particularly for hemophilic children, toward prophylaxis, which is regular factor infusions each week to prevent joint and other bleeds.

• HTCs provide instruction on home infusion and self-infusion of clotting factor.

• For persons with severe hemophilia, home or self-infusion of clotting factor allows persons to treat as soon as a bleeding episode occurs. This helps to prevent or reduce key complications. Ask your hemophilia treatment center if home infusion is appropriate for you.

For more information on each fact sheet or to locate a hemophilia treatment center near you, contact NHF's information service, HANDI, at 800-42-HANDI or info@hemophilia.org.