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What can be done to stop a simple nosebleed?

First, help the person stay calm, especially a young child. A person who is agitated may bleed more than someone who’s been reassured and supported. Then:

  1. Pinch all the soft parts of the nose together between your thumb and the side of your index finger.
  2. Press firmly but gently with your thumb and the side of your index finger toward the face, compressing the pinched parts of the nose against the bones of the face.  Keep your chin forward.
  3. Hold that position for a full five to fifteen minutes by the clock.
  4. Keep the head higher than the level of the heart. Sit up or lie back a little with the head elevated.
  5. Apply ice – crushed in a plastic bag or washcloth – to nose and cheeks.
  6. If the bleeding does not stop within 20 minutes, seek immediate emergency treatment.

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