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Nosebleed — First Aid
What to do
- Sit the person down and lean them slightly forwards, so blood drains out of the nose rather than down the throat.
- Pinch the soft part of the nose, just below the bony bridge, firmly between thumb and finger.
- Keep pinching continuously for 10 to 15 minutes without letting go to check. Breathe through the mouth and spit out any blood rather than swallowing it.
- A cold pack or bag of frozen peas wrapped in a cloth on the bridge of the nose may help.
- If the nose is still bleeding after the first attempt, pinch for another 10 to 15 minutes.
- Once it stops, rest for a few hours and avoid blowing the nose, bending down, hot drinks and strenuous activity for the rest of the day.
What NOT to do
- Do not tilt the head back — blood runs down the throat and can cause vomiting or choking.
- Do not keep releasing the pinch to check whether it has stopped.
- Do not blow the nose during or just after a nosebleed — it dislodges the clot.
- Do not pack tissues deep inside the nose.
When to get medical care
Get medical help if bleeding continues after about 30 minutes of correct pressure, the bleed followed a head injury, blood is flowing down the back of the throat despite leaning forward, the person takes blood-thinning medication, feels faint or unwell, or nosebleeds keep happening repeatedly.
Related conditions
Related symptoms
Frequently asked questions
Why lean forwards and not backwards?
Leaning back does not stop the bleeding — it sends blood down the throat, where it can be swallowed (causing nausea and vomiting) or inhaled. Leaning forwards lets the blood drain out while pressure helps a clot form.
When is a nosebleed an emergency?
Call 911 or go to emergency care if the bleeding is very heavy, the person feels faint, breathless or unwell, the nosebleed follows a significant head injury, or bleeding has not stopped after about 30 minutes of steady pressure.
In an emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) first — do not delay a call to read a guide. These pages are educational first-aid information in general terms; they are not a substitute for emergency services, first-aid training, or assessment by a qualified clinician.
