
Nosebleed first aid

- Sit up straight, hold your head forward and breathe through your mouth. Don't lie down or lean back.
- Pinch the soft lower part of your nose firmly for at least 10 minutes. Don't pinch the upper part of your nose over the bone.
- You can also hold a cold compress against your nose.
- Try not to speak, cough or sniff.
If the bleeding is heavy or doesn't stop within 20 minutes, keep applying pressure to your nose and see a doctor urgently.
Don't blow your nose for a few hours after the bleeding stops, as it might start again.
Rest and avoid straining or bending for one or two days after a nosebleed. If you need to sneeze, try to sneeze with your mouth open, to avoid straining your nose.
If someone has a bleeding nose or fluid dripping from their nose after a head injury, phone 111 for an ambulance urgently. They may have a fractured (broken) skull.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed May 2020.
Sources
The information in this section comes from the following sources, some of which may be clinically complex or not available to the general public
Canterbury Community HealthPathways – Recurrent Epistaxis in Children. Retrieved April 2019.
Healthify He Puna Wairoa – Nosebleed. Retrieved April 2019.
St John Ambulance UK – Nose bleeds. Retrieved April 2019.
Page reference: 47593
Review key: HINBC-16619