Recovery Position (Adult)
Recovery Position (Child)
The purpose of the recovery position is to keep the casualty safe, have the ability to breathe and for any vomit to be able to leave the mouth.
The recovery position should be used wherever it is thought appropriate by the rescuer, but particularly when the casualty is unconscious and/or likely to vomit.
The position is identical for both adults and children, although a baby cannot be put into it.
If you have not had any Life Support training, you should not attempt other Life Support techniques. However, you could learn to put the casualty into the Recovery Position - this would be safer than leaving the casualty as they are, in most circumstances.
The procedure to roll a casualty is also included in this section, but is not part of some Life Support courses (including St. John's Ambulance Stage 1).
Citation: Handley, A.J. (2006). Life Support: Basic Skills to Save Lives. Broom: Royal Life Saving Society (UK).
