Health Library

Recovery position - series

Procedure, part 1

If the victim is breathing and in no need of chest compressions and CPR, the victim should be placed in the recovery position. The recovery position puts the victim in a position that keeps the airway open. To put the victim in the recovery position grab the victims leg and shoulder and roll them towards you.

Procedure, part 2

Continue to roll the victim until they are on their side.

Procedure, part 3

Adjust the top leg so that both the hip and knee are bent at right angles. Gently tilt the head back to keep the airway open. Keep the person warm until medical help is obtained. If breathing or circulation stops at any time, roll the person back on to their back and begin CPR.

Related Information

Review Date: 1/2/2023  

Reviewed By: Jesse Borke, MD, CPE, FAAEM, FACEP, Attending Physician at Kaiser Permanente, Orange County, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, for Health Content Provider (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- 2024 A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.