The recovery position 

If a person is unconscious but is breathing and has no other life-threatening conditions, they should be placed in the recovery position.

Putting someone in the recovery position will ensure their airway remains clear and open. It also ensures that any vomit or fluid will not cause them to choke.

To place someone in the recovery position:



kneel on the floor on one side of the person



place the arm nearest you at a right angle to their body with their hand upwards towards the head



tuck their other hand under the side of their head, so that the back of their hand is touching their cheek



bend the knee farthest from you to a right angle



roll the person onto their side carefully by pulling on the bent knee



the top arm should be supporting the head and the bottom arm will stop you rolling them too far



open their airway by gently tilting their head back and lifting their chin, and check that nothing is blocking their airway



stay with the person and monitor their breathing and pulse continuously until help arrives



if their injuries allow you to, turn the person onto their other side after 30 minutes



Spinal injury

If you think a person may have a spinal injury, do not attempt to move them until the emergency services reach you, unless their airway is obstructed.

If it is necessary to open their airway, place your hands on either side of their face and gently lift their jaw with your fingertips to open the airway. Take care not to move their neck.

You should suspect a spinal injury if the person:



has a head injury, especially one where there has been a large blow on the back of the head, and is or has been unconscious



complains of severe pain in their neck or back



won't move their neck



feels weak, numb or paralysed



has lost control of their limbs, bladder or bowels



has a twisted neck or back



If you must move the person (for example, because they are vomiting, choking or they are in danger of further injury), you will need assistance to roll them.

 

CPR 

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a first aid technique that can be used if someone is not breathing properly or if their heart has stopped.

Chest compressions and rescue breaths keep blood and oxygen circulating in the body.

If someone is not breathing normally and is not moving or responding to you after an accident, call 999 or 112 for an ambulance. Then, if you can, start CPR straight away.

Hands-only CPR

If you have not been trained in CPR or are worried about giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to a stranger, you can do chest compression-only (or hands-only) CPR.

To carry out a chest compression:



Place the heel of your hand on the breastbone at the centre of the person’s chest. Place your other hand on top of your first hand and interlock your fingers.



Position yourself with your shoulders above your hands.



Using your body weight (not just your arms), press straight down by 5–6cm on their chest.



Repeat this until an ambulance arrives.



Try to perform chest compressions at 100-120 chest compressions a minute.

When you call for an ambulance, telephone systems now exist that can give basic life-saving instructions, including advice on CPR. These are now common and are easily accessible with mobile phones.

CPR with rescue breaths

If you’ve been trained in CPR, including rescue breaths, and feel confident using your skills, you should give chest compressions with rescue breaths. If you are not completely confident, attempt hands-only CPR instead (see above).

Adults



Place the heel of your hand on the centre of the person's chest, then place the other hand on top and press down by 5–6cm at a steady rate, at approximately 100 compressions per minute.



After every 30 chest compressions, give two breaths.



Tilt the casualty's head gently and lift the chin up with two fingers. Pinch the person’s nose. Seal your mouth over their mouth and blow steadily and firmly into their mouth. Check that their chest rises. Give two rescue breaths.



Continue with cycles of 30 chest compressions and two rescue breaths until they begin to recover or emergency help arrives.



Children over one year old



Open the child's airway by placing one hand on the child’s forehead and gently tilting their head back and lifting the chin. Remove any visible obstructions from the mouth and nose.



Pinch their nose. Seal your mouth over their mouth and blow steadily and firmly into their mouth, checking that their chest rises. Give five initial rescue breaths.



Place the heel of your hand on the centre of their chest and press down by at least one-third of the depth of the chest. Use two hands if you can't press down hard enough with one.



After every 30 chest compressions at a rate of 100 per minute, give two breaths.



Continue with cycles of 30 chest compressions and two rescue breaths until they begin to recover or emergency help arrives.



Babies under one year old



Open the baby's airway by placing one hand on their forehead and gently tilting the head back and lifting the chin. Remove any visible obstructions from the mouth and nose.



Place your mouth over the mouth and nose of the infant and blow steadily and firmly into their mouth, checking that their chest rises. Give five initial rescue breaths.



Place two fingers in the middle of the chest and press down by one-third of the depth of the chest. Use the heel of one hand if you cannot press deep enough with two fingers.



After 30 chest compressions at a rate of 100 per minute, give two breaths.



Continue with cycles of 30 chest compressions and two rescue breaths until they begin to recover or emergency help arrives.
 
Recovery position