recovery position

Unconscious person's pose

The recovery position is a way of placing an unconscious but breathing person on their side to keep their airway clear.

The position prevents choking if the person vomits—gravity drains fluid from the mouth rather than into the lungs.

Standard first aid training covers how to move someone into the recovery position safely.

Opposites
body positioning in medical/emergency contexts

recovery positionprone position

Lying with chest down

standing · sitting upright · lithotomy position · supine · prone

airway safety status

recovery positionflat on back

Lying face-up horizontally

Family

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Top 500,000
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