1. Health and Safety Unit 3 Sophie Bevan

2. The Recovery Position  The recovery position is a position that an unconscious but breathing casualty can be placed as part of first aid treatment.

3. The Recovery Position  An unconscious person in a supine position (on their back) may not be able to maintain a clear airway as a conscious person would.  This can lead to an obstruction of the airway, restricting the flow of air and preventing oxygen entering the blood stream.  This causes hypoxia, which is life threatening

4.  Thousands of fatalities occur every year in casualties where the cause of unconsciousness was not fatal, but where airway obstruction caused the patient to suffocate.

5. A  Kneel on the floor to one side of the person.  Place the person’s arm that is nearest you at a right angle to their body, so it is bent at the elbow with the hand pointing upwards. This will keep it out of the way when you roll them over.

6. B  Gently pick up their other hand with your palm against theirs (palm to palm). Now place the back of their hand onto their opposite cheek (for example, against their left cheek if it is their right hand).  Keep your hand there to guide and support their head as you roll them.

7. C  Now use your other arm to reach across to the person’s knee that is furthest from you, and pull it up so that their leg is bent and their foot is flat on the floor.  Now, with your hand still on the person’s knee, pull their knee towards you so they roll over onto their side, facing you. The person’s body weight should help them to roll over quite easily.

8. D  Move the bent leg away from their body so that it is resting on the floor (bent at a right angle to their body).  Lastly gently raise their chin to tilt their head back slightly, as this will open up their airway and help them to breathe. Check that nothing is blocking their airway. If there is an obstruction, remove this if you can do so safely. Stay with them, giving reassurance, until they have fully recovered.

9. The Recovery Position  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWL GOXikOis http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWL GOXikOis  First aid- teaching young people the recovery position

10. Stages of the Recovery Position… Your Turn! Initially  Check for danger  Check that the person is breathing

11. Step 1  Place their hand in the ‘how’ position Step 2  Place the other hand on their cheek

12. Step 3  Supporting their ‘cheek’ hand lift their knee up Step 4  Holding the hand and knee, roll them on to their side Step 5  Open the airways and check for breathing (one hand on the forehead and two fingers on the chin), tilt and lower the head.

13. Stages of the Recovery Position To end  Check for breathing  Adjust leg position