Nose bleeds occur when the gentle blood vessels inside the nose break. This could happen easily due to weather conditions, a strong blow or a chronic leaky nose.
What to IMMEDIATELY do: Sit on a chair and lean your body forward. Pinch your nose closed right below its bridge, where the bone meets cartilage. Maintain pressure for 5-15 minutes. You can also use an ice pack to keep pressure.
Some suggest laying cold metal on the back of the neck or along the spine to narrow the blood vessels and stop the bleeding. For this method, any metal item will do, such as a table spoon, a coin or a key. And so it is advisable to keep a metal item in the freezer for just this case.
What NOT to do: Do not tilt your head back, as you may swallow the blood and it may enter your lungs.
When to seek medical aid: Contact a doctor if you aren't able to stop the bleeding after 20 minutes, or if there is no good reason for it, or if it is accompanied by headaches, dizziness, ringing in the ears or visual impairments. more