When is it appropriate to place a casualty in the recovery position?

• A. Always for any casualty
• B. When the casualty is unconscious but breathing and there is no suspected spinal injury
• C. Only if unconscious and not breathing
• D. Only if color changes

Answer: (B)

The essential idea is to keep the airway open for an unconscious person who is still breathing. When someone is unconscious, the tongue can relax back and block the airway, and if they vomit or produce secretions, they’re at risk of choking. Placing them on their side in the recovery position prevents these problems by allowing air to flow and giving fluids a path to drain away from the airway. This approach is appropriate only when there is no suspected spinal injury, because turning or moving someone with a possible spine injury could cause more harm. If the person isn’t breathing, you would start CPR rather than placing them in the recovery position. Color changes alone don’t determine the need for the recovery position.