{"id":10835,"date":"2020-06-11T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-06-11T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.procpr.org\/blog\/?p=10835"},"modified":"2022-08-26T11:04:41","modified_gmt":"2022-08-26T15:04:41","slug":"basic-first-aid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.procpr.org\/blog\/training\/basic-first-aid","title":{"rendered":"Basic First Aid: What is the Recovery Position?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When an emergency arises and the person who needs help is unconscious, you may not know exactly what to do. After all, they can\u2019t tell you what\u2019s wrong or whether or not you\u2019re hurting them. You don\u2019t know if they\u2019ll choke if you lay them flat or if they\u2019re about to vomit. All of these unknowns may send you into a panic \u2013 unless you have proper medical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

One important lesson taught in basic first aid training<\/a> is how and when to put someone in the recovery position. Today, we\u2019re going to talk about the recovery position and what you should do when an emergency calls for it. If you haven\u2019t gone to basic first aid classes yet, we\u2019ll also give you some important information about how to get signed up for one with no hassle! Stick around and gain the knowledge you may need to save someone\u2019s life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the recovery position? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The recovery position in first aid training is the way that you pose a person to keep their airway open and prevent vomit or other fluid from blocking their airway when they are unconscious. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note that if someone has experienced a cardiac arrest, is unconscious and not breathing, or is breathing abnormally, you do not use the recovery position. In this case, lay them flat on their back and begin CPR. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some situations don\u2019t call for such drastic\nmeasures. If the person is still breathing with a strong heartbeat, use the\nrecovery position instead if CPR.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When should you use the recovery\nposition? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You should use the recovery position if someone\nis unconscious but still breathing normally and there are no other\nlife-threatening conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, if someone passed out from being intoxicated, putting them in the recovery position is a good idea. Whether the person passes out from drinking alcohol or using drugs, using the recovery position until emergency services arrive is the best way to proceed. Why? Because if they continue to lie on their back, they could vomit and suffocate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As long as the person is not suffering from any\nlife-threatening injury and does not need CPR, the recovery position is the\nbest way to maintain a clear airway until emergency services arrive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When should you not use the recovery\nposition? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You already know that someone who needs CPR<\/a> should not be put into the recovery position. A major issue that needs to be addressed, though, is other situations where using the recovery position could cause further harm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If there is a chance that the person you\u2019re helping may have suffered a spinal injury<\/a> or other life-threatening injuries, do not move them. Instead, call emergency services and wait for them to arrive. This is the best possible thing you could do because moving them risks further injury. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you must open the airway of an unconscious\nperson who has suffered these injuries, follow these steps: <\/p>\n\n\n\n