# Nose bleed

! Many nose bleeds do not have an obvious cause, but some may be because of:

a blow to the nose

excessive blowing

sneezing

high blood pressure

changes to altitude.

What to do 1 Ask the patient to breathe through their mouth and not to blow their nose. Encourage the patient to spit out blood rather than swallow it. 2 Help the patient to sit down with their head slightly forward. 3 Pinch the soft part of the patient’s nostrils, just below the bridge of the nose, for at least 10 minutes. 4 Loosen any tight clothing around the patient’s neck. 5 If bleeding persists, seek medical aid. Placing a cold pack on the patient’s neck and forehead may help the bleed. A cold pack is unlikely to cause any harm.