Recovery position

The recovery position is a way to place a person on their side in a way that supports their body if they are unconscious. 

Suspect a spinal injury if: 

• the person has been involved in an accident that could have affected their spine, eg a fall from a height or a blow to the back
• they have severe pain in their neck or back
• they can’t move their neck
• they have weakness or numbness or are unable to move
• they have lost control of their bowel, bladder or limbs.

The recovery position is designed to keep unconscious people safe by making sure their airway is kept clear and open. It also reduces the risk of any vomit or fluid causing them to choke. 

Use the recovery position when someone is unable to be woken up or is unresponsive. For example if they:

• don't respond to commands such as “open your eyes” or “squeeze my hand”
• don't react to you grasping and squeezing their shoulders firmly
• only groan without opening their eyes.

Possible spinal injury

If you think the person may have a spinal (neck or back) injury, don’t try to move them but wait until emergency services arrive. If you need to open their airway, keep their head and neck still by placing your hands on either side of their face and lift their jaw slightly with your fingertips to open up their airway.

Gently place the person into the recovery position while being careful to avoid any twisting or forward movement of the head and spine. 

If you think they might have neck or spinal injuries, log roll them on their side, supporting their head and keeping the spine in line.

Image credit: 123rf

Follow these steps (for someone who is lying on their back)

• Kneel next to them on the floor.
• Remove their glasses and any bulky items in their pockets.
• Make sure their legs are straight.
• Take the arm closest to you and move it out at a right angle to their body with their palm facing upwards.
• Take the other arm and move it so that the back of their hand is resting against the side of their face (cheek and chin) nearest to you and hold it there.
• With your other hand, lift the knee furthest from you up until their foot is flat on the floor.
• Pull on the raised knee to roll them over towards you, keeping their hand under their cheek.
• Adjust the top leg so it’s at a right angle.
• Open their airway by slightly tilting their head back.
• Call 111 if it’s not already been done and stay with them until help arrives.

Video: The Recovery Position - First Aid Training - St John Ambulance

Watch this video to see how to put someone into the recovery position. This video may take a few moments to load.

 
(St John Ambulance, NZ, 2016)