Nosebleed, treatment of: To stop a nosebleed, you should pinch all the soft parts of the nose together between your thumb and index finger, and press firmly toward the face, compressing the pinched parts of the nose against the bones of the face. Hold the nose for at least five minutes, and repeat as necessary until the nose has stopped bleeding. Sit quietly, keeping the head higher than the level of the heart; that is, sit up or lie with the head elevated. Do not lay flat or put your head between your legs. Apply ice (crushed in a plastic bag or washcloth) to nose and cheeks.