When someone is unconscious but still breathing, their body can become a danger to itself. That’s where the recovery position, a specific way to position an unconscious person to keep their airway open and prevent choking. Also known as lateral recumbent position, it’s one of the most basic yet critical skills in first aid. It’s not about comfort—it’s about survival. If a person is lying flat on their back and loses consciousness, their tongue can block their throat, or vomit can pool in their airway. The recovery position moves them onto their side, tilts their head back slightly, and lets gravity do the work: fluid drains out, the tongue falls forward, and air keeps flowing.
This technique matters most in situations where medical help is delayed—like after a seizure, alcohol overdose, or sudden collapse. It’s not a cure, but it buys time. You don’t need equipment, training, or a hospital. Just your hands and a few seconds. The airway management, the process of ensuring a clear passage for air to reach the lungs is the core goal here. And the recovery position is the simplest, most reliable method for non-medical people to achieve it. It’s used by bystanders, teachers, parents, and coworkers—anyone who might be the first to respond. It’s also the standard taught in every Red Cross and St. John Ambulance course worldwide because it works, every time, when done correctly.
There’s a reason you don’t see people rolling unconscious strangers onto their stomachs or leaving them upright. Those positions increase the risk of suffocation. The recovery position is the only one that balances safety, stability, and function. It keeps the head tilted, the chin lifted, and the mouth pointing downward. Even if the person vomits, the fluid flows out instead of down. That’s why emergency responders always check for it before moving on to other steps. And if you’re ever in doubt—whether it’s a friend passed out after a party or a stranger on the sidewalk—this is the one move you should make before calling for help.
You’ll find detailed guides in the posts below on how to perform it step by step, common mistakes people make, and when it’s not the right choice—like if there’s a suspected spinal injury. You’ll also see real-world examples of how it’s been used in emergencies, from drug overdoses to epileptic seizures. These aren’t theoretical scenarios. They’re stories from people who used this skill and saw the difference it made. This isn’t just first aid knowledge. It’s a life-saving habit anyone can learn.
