Recovery Position

If someone is unconscious they should not be left lying on their back as their airway may become compromised by their tongue or a build up of saliva / vomit. They should be turned onto their side to clear the airway and help maintain breathing - this is called The Recovery Position.

Here's how to do it

If the casualty is already lying on their side or their front, just carefully move their limbs to obtain the final position shown

What's the problem?

The tongue is a muscle used for a variety of purposes in the mouth. The mouth also produces saliva with any excess subconsciously swallowed by muscular action. The contents of the stomach are held in place by a sphincter muscle.

If a person becomes unconscious, they lose control of their muscles meaning that they fall to the ground. They also lose the ability to swallow, nor contain digestive juices and stomach acid within the stomach. The tongue becomes limp and floppy.

If an unconscious person remains on their back then the tongue can flop back and block the airway. Saliva can build up and pool at the back of the throat. Stomach contents can be inhaled into the lungs. The chest wall will be fighting against gravity to breathe. All this can have a detriment effect on the casualty's breathing, complicating wherever condition has caused the person to go unconscious in the first place.

Therefore any unconscious person should be placed on their side so that saliva & vomit will drain out, the tongue will flop forward out of harm's way, and the chest wall is not battling against gravity.