Health Tip: When Your Child Gets a Nosebleed

A parent should know what to do at the first sign of a child's nosebleed. Above all, it's important to remain calm and to avoid doing anything that will scare the youngster.

The American Academy of Pediatrics offers these suggestions:

• Don't ask your child to lie down or tilt the head back. Instead, have your child sit or stand and lean the head slightly forward.
• Don't pack cotton or any other material inside the child's nose.
• Apply pressure to the nose to help stop the bleeding. Don't be afraid to call the pediatrician or to go to the emergency room if the bleeding hasn't stopped after 20 minutes.