Call 911 right away if:
- Bleeding is very heavy, or you have trouble breathing
- The bleeding lasts more than 30 minutes, even with steady pinching
- The nosebleed came after a hard blow to the head or face, and there are signs of a head injury or the face or nose looks out of shape
- You feel faint, dizzy, or confused, or you’ve lost a lot of blood
What to do
- Sit up and lean forward a little. This keeps blood from running down your throat.
- Pinch the soft part of your nose (just below the bony bridge) closed with your thumb and finger.
- Keep pinching for 10 to 15 minutes without letting go to check. Use a clock. Breathe through your mouth.
- Spit out any blood that gets in your mouth instead of swallowing it.
- Check after 10 to 15 minutes. If it’s still bleeding, pinch for another 10 to 15 minutes.
- Rest afterward. For the rest of the day, try not to blow or pick your nose, bend over, lift heavy things, or do hard exercise.
Avoid
- Don’t tilt your head back or lie flat. You may swallow blood, which can make you throw up.
- Don’t stuff tissues deep inside the nose.
Prevention
- Use a humidifier or saline nose spray if the air is dry.
- Keep children’s fingernails short and discourage nose picking.
See a doctor or go to urgent care if:
- Bleeding doesn’t stop after 15 minutes of steady pinching, or you feel lightheaded
- You take a blood thinner or have a bleeding disorder and the bleeding hasn’t stopped
- Nosebleeds happen often
- A child under 2 has a nosebleed