Nosebleed care

• Sit upright and lean forward. By remaining upright, you reduce blood pressure in the veins of your nose. This discourages further bleeding. Sitting forward will help you avoid swallowing blood, which can irritate your stomach.
• Gently blow your nose. Blow your nose to clear your nose of blood clots. Then spray both sides of your nose with a nasal decongestant containing oxymetazoline (Afrin).

• Pinch your nose. Use your thumb and index finger to pinch your nostrils shut. Breathe through your mouth. Continue to pinch for 10 to 15 minutes. Pinching sends pressure to the bleeding point on the nasal septum and often stops the flow of blood.

  If the bleeding continues after 10 to 15 minutes, repeat holding pressure for another 10 to 15 minutes. Avoid peeking at your nose. If the bleeding still continues, seek emergency care.

• To prevent re-bleeding, don't pick or blow your nose and don't bend down for several hours. Keep your head higher than the level of your heart. You can also gently apply some petroleum jelly to the inside of your nose using a cotton swab or your finger.
• If re-bleeding occurs, go through these steps again. Call your doctor if the bleeding continues.