A nosebleed can be scary to get - or see - but try to stay calm. Most nosebleeds look much worse than they really are. The nose has many blood vessels in it to help warm and humidify the air you breathe. These vessels lie close to the surface, making
them easy to injure.
If you get a nosebleed, sit down and lean slightly forward. Keeping your head above your heart will make your nose bleed less. Lean forward so the blood will drain out of your nose instead of down the back of your throat. If you lean back, you may swallow the blood. This can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Pressing both thumbs directly under the nostril and above the lips may block the blood supply to the nose. Pressure with both forefingers on each side of the nostril slows bleeding by blocking the main arteries and their branches.
If bleeding continues, insert cotton or other absorbent material into the nostril and press on the arteries to slow bleeding. Cold compresses on the nose, lips, and the back of the head often help control bleeding. Once the bleeding stops, don't do anything that may make it start again, such as bending over or blowing your nose.