WHAT should I do if my son has a ­nosebleed?

IF your son has a nosebleed you should:

l Sit him down and firmly pinch the soft part of his nose just above his nostrils, for at least 10 minutes,

l Tell him to lean forward and breathe through his mouth,

l Keep him upright, rather than lying down, leaning slightly forward,

l Maintain the pressure for a further 10 minutes if the bleeding does not stop the in first 10 minutes.

l Tell him to avoid blowing his nose, bending down and strenuous activity for at least 12 hours after a nosebleed.

l See your GP, or call NHS 24 free on 111, if the bleeding is very heavy or if it does not stop after maintaining pressure for 20 minutes. You should also seek help for nosebleeds following an injury to the head, or if they reoccur more than once a week.