Many people tip their head back for a nosebleed. The NHS says the opposite — sit down and lean forward, breathe through your mouth, and pinch your nose just above the nostrils for 10 to 15 minutes. If it lasts longer than 10 to 15 minutes, go to A&E, and for 24 hours after it stops there are things to avoid. This sets out the NHS page “Nosebleed”.
1. Sit, lean forward, pinch above the nostrils for 10 to 15 minutes. Breathe through your mouth.
2. Longer than 10 to 15 minutes? A&E. The same after a blow to the head, or with difficulty breathing.
3. For 24 hours after: no nose blowing, hot drinks, alcohol or strenuous exercise. And don’t lie flat.
How to stop it — NHS
| Step | What the NHS says | Worth noting (our gloss) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Position | Sit down and lean forward, breathe through your mouth | Not head back |
| 2. Pinch | Pinch your nose just above your nostrils for 10 to 15 minutes | Don’t let go to check |
| 3. Cold | An icepack or bag of frozen peas on the top of the nose may help, but the evidence is weak | Optional |
“Don’t let go to check” is our reading of pinching for 10 to 15 minutes. Other home emergencies are in emergencies at home.
For 24 hours after — what to avoid
- Blowing or picking your nose, picking scabs
- Hot drinks, alcohol
- Heavy lifting, strenuous exercise
- Lying flat
When to go to A&E
| Situation | What the NHS says | Where |
|---|---|---|
| It goes on | Lasts longer than 10 to 15 minutes | A&E |
| Too much blood | The bleeding seems excessive | A&E |
| After a head injury | Bleeding started after a blow to the head | A&E |
| Trouble breathing | Difficulty breathing | A&E |
| Vomiting blood, weak or dizzy | Swallowing enough blood to vomit, or feeling weak or dizzy | A&E |
The NHS says do not drive yourself — call 999 or get someone else to drive, and take your medicines. Choosing care in Korea is covered in ER or local clinic.
When to see a GP
- A child under 2 has had a nosebleed
- You get nosebleeds regularly
- You have symptoms of anaemia, such as palpitations, shortness of breath or unusually pale skin
- You take medicine to prevent blood clots, or have a clotting disorder such as haemophilia
Why it happens
The NHS says the inside of the nose is easy to damage; common triggers are picking, blowing too hard and dry air. More serious bleeds, usually in adults, can come from deeper in the nose and may be linked to injury, blood vessel or clotting conditions, or medicines such as warfarin. Children, adults over 45, pregnant women and people with high blood pressure are more likely to get them.
In hospital — what the NHS describes
The NHS page opens with “Nosebleeds are not usually a sign of anything serious”; they are common, particularly in children, and most can be treated at home. For treatment by a doctor or in hospital, it describes:
- If the doctor can see where the blood comes from, a stick with a chemical on it pushed into the nostril to seal the area
- If not, packing the nose with ribbon gauze or sponge — you may need to stay in hospital for a day or two
- After it stops, an antiseptic cream for inside the nose to stop crusting — check the ingredients first, as it may not suit people with a peanut or soya allergy
Checklist
- ☐ Sit, lean forward, breathe through your mouth
- ☐ Pinch above the nostrils for 10 to 15 minutes without stopping
- ☐ Longer than 10 to 15 minutes: A&E — don’t drive yourself
- ☐ For 24 hours: no nose blowing, hot drinks, alcohol, strenuous exercise or lying flat
- ☐ Child under 2, frequent bleeds or on blood thinners: see a GP
Questions that remain
Should I plug the nose with tissue?
The NHS page read here does not cover plugging the nose, so we say nothing about it.
What goes in a first aid kit?
See first aid kit.
Sources
- NHS — Nosebleed — original (page last reviewed 5 December 2023, next review due 5 December 2026; checked 12 October 2026). Sit and lean forward, 10 to 15 minutes, weak evidence for icepacks, 24 hours of things to avoid, five A&E signs, no driving yourself, four GP reasons, causes, over 45, hospital treatment (chemical stick, packing, antiseptic cream, peanut or soya allergy).
- Not read. Korean agencies’ nosebleed first aid guidance.
- Added by us. The “worth noting” column.
Where to check further
- Your medicines — whether any are blood thinners.
Written 12 October 2026. The content follows the NHS original; the glosses are ours.
