The lateral safety position is used when people are unconscious but are breathing. There are several variations, but the purpose is always the same: to prevent suffocation. After doing the first aid maneuvers, and if you are sure that the person does not have a spinal or cervical injury, use the following procedure to place the person in the lateral recovery position. You can save his life by putting these simple measures in place.
Steps
Step 1. Check for any dangers before approaching the victim
Gently shake her and scream to see if she reacts. If there is no answer, HELP IT.
Step 2. Check your breathing
See if your chest moves, feel the breath on your cheek, or lean in to feel if it's breathing. If he is breathing, put the person in the lateral recovery position as follows.
Step 3. Position your arm closest to you so that it forms a right angle to your body, palm facing up
Step 4. Place the palm of your other hand against your chest
Step 5. Lift the knee further away from you so that the leg is bent and the foot is flat on the floor
Pull the bent knee towards you. This way the body should turn to the side.
Step 6. Place your free hand under your head so that your palm is flat on the floor and your cheek rests on the back of your hand
- Point your mouth toward the floor so that any vomit or blood spills can drain away.
- Push the chin (away from the chest, not the floor) to keep the epiglottis open.
Step 7. Keep the knee bent so that the leg forms a right angle to the body
Step 8. Make sure the patient remains in the lateral position, with the airways cleared
He could easily return to his supine position, but he won't roll over. The lateral safety position is stable and safe once cervical spine injuries are ruled out.
Step 9. Check your breathing again
Cover the person with a blanket, stay close to them and wait for the ambulance to arrive.
Advice
- If the victim is visibly pregnant, be sure to place it on their left side. Otherwise, the uterus could put pressure on the large arteries, causing death.
- Consider the lateral safety position if you see an unconscious person slumped forward, with their chin tucked over their chest obstructing the airway. While waiting for the ambulance to arrive, place her in a lateral safety position to open her airways and save her life.
- Another situation you may encounter is when an individual is lying on the ground in a reduced state of consciousness due to alcohol. The safety lateral position is stable and safe in such a scenario, because in case of vomiting, the person is not likely to swallow it or choke.
- The primary purpose of placing the victim in a safe lateral position is to ensure that the airway remains open and to prevent any potential obstruction (vomit, tongue) from suffocating the victim. In reduced consciousness, he cannot have full control of the airways.
