Posted By Mark Eastbourne
Afternoon all,

I am confused. When I went for my first aid training I was taught the recovery position much like the other first aiders on site.

However, twice now, when we have contacted the emergency services we have been told by the person on the phone that the casualty should be lying on his/her back, only for the paramedics to tell us that they should be placed in the recovery position!

The first incident involved a diabetic, the second incident occurred this morning to a lovely lady who fell completely unconscious.

My guys are asking what the procedure is and should they do as thay have been trained or as the emergency services operator says?

Many thanks

Mark

Posted By mike morland
I haven't done first aid for years and therefore not qualified but I do remember the purpose of the recovery position which was to prevent the tongue falling back across the windpipe and to keep the airway open.

That said, you would have to access each case on it's merits i.e if someone can't be turned because they are trapped (tilt head back and to the side would do the same).

However if they have a serious neck injury then this method would be unwise and turning of the head and body together would be required. In which case leave it to the paramedics.

Regards

Regards

Posted By David Bannister
I attended a short "Heartsart" course a couple of weeks ago. The advice was if breathing, recovery position and continue to monitor. If not, use modern method of compressions, followed by recovery position & monitor if successful. All of this after summoning assistance.

Posted By AlB
I revently attended the St John First aid @ Work course abd the advice there was quie clear - unconscious but breathing - recovery position. Semi-conscious and breathing - recovery position unless suspicion of further significant injury (such as broken neck or back). Not breathing - ABC rule.

That's what the course taught me, that's what the St John insurance covers me for. That is what I'm taught has the highest probability of saving a person's life.

I'm intrigued by the comments made by the phone operator though...

Posted By RoseR
The recovery position is used to hold the airway open, leaving you with your hands free to treat a severe bleed or carry out a check on the patient if you are on your own and someone else cannot maintain the patients airway in an open position.

It used to be taught that you put someone in the recovery position if you had to go and get help, however with most people having a mobile phone and response times being quicker from the emergency services, if you can maintain the airway open with the head tilt this keeps the patients head/neck still and allows you monitor their breathing. Also if a problem with their breathing develops you can also start resuscitation immediately.

If the emergency services may take a while then I would put them in the recovery position, but if they were only going to be 5 mintues I would maintain their airway myself as I would prefer to be able to monitor them from that position.

On a lighter note, I ran a session once for a department who had a colleague who had epileptic seizures so they were all keen to learn how to help him. Because his recovery afterwards was up to 30 minutes sleeping they all practiced the recovery position on the guy who had the seizures. He gave them marks out of ten for gentleness and said he was going to put a list up in the department of who he would prefer to treat him!! Which turned a slightly awkward training session into great laugh as they all tried to compete with each other for top billing on the list.