Recovery Position: Step-by-Step Guide & When to Use

The recovery position is an essential first aid technique used in many emergencies because it helps keep the airway open. It also helps prevent vomit or other stomach contents from coming back up and entering the lungs, which can reduce the risk of choking.

This position is meant for someone who is unconscious but still breathing and has a regular pulse. It should only be used when there are no signs of a life-threatening problem that requires a different immediate response.

The recovery position can be helpful in situations such as seizures, drowning, or overdose. It should not be used if the person may have injuries to the spine, head, or neck, and emergency medical services should be called by dialing 911.

Step-by-step guide

To place a person in the recovery position:

• Lay the person flat on their back, with their arms and legs straight;

• Kneel beside the person;

• Remove objects that could injure them, such as glasses, a watch, or a belt;

• Extend the arm closest to you and bend it at a 90-degree angle, with the palm facing up;

• Take the hand of the other arm, the one farther from you, and bring it across the chest, placing it next to the person’s face;

• Bend the knee farthest from you so the foot is flat on the ground;

• Place one hand on the person’s head and the other hand on the bent knee;

• Roll the person onto their side toward the arm resting on the ground;

• Gently tilt the head slightly back to help keep the airway open.

After placing the person in this position, keep watching them until the ambulance arrives. If the person stops breathing, quickly roll them onto their back and begin chest compressions to keep blood circulating and improve the chances of survival, according to the American Heart Association.

This technique should never be used if a serious spinal injury is suspected, such as after a car crash or a fall from a significant height. Moving the person in these situations can worsen a spinal injury.

Which side should the person be placed on?

In most situations, the recovery position can be done on either the right or left side. However, in cases of overdose or poisoning, the person should be turned onto their left side until emergency help arrives.

Pregnant women should also be placed on their left side. This helps prevent the baby’s weight from pressing on major blood vessels in the abdomen.

In cases of drowning, it is recommended to turn the person onto their right side.

When to use

The recovery position is used to keep the person safer while waiting for medical help. For that reason, it should only be done when the person is unconscious but breathing.

This simple technique helps prevent the tongue from falling back and blocking the throat. It also helps reduce the risk that vomit will be swallowed or inhaled into the lungs, which can lead to pneumonia or choking.