The Recovery Position: How to Do It and When to Use It (2026)

By SKLD Training - 2026-02-15

The recovery position keeps an unconscious person's airway clear and prevents choking on vomit or fluids. It is one of the most important and most commonly misunderstood first aid skills. This guide walks through when to use it, the correct technique step by step, and when NOT to roll someone.

What the Recovery Position Is and Why It Matters

The recovery position is the lateral (side-lying) position used for a person who is unconscious but breathing normally. It is not a technique for every emergency - it is a specific response for a specific scenario, and using it correctly can be the difference between life and death.

When a person is unconscious and lying on their back, two things can block their airway:

The tongue relaxes and falls back toward the throat.
Vomit, blood, saliva, or other fluids can pool at the back of the throat and be inhaled.

Rolling the person onto their side uses gravity to solve both problems. The tongue falls forward away from the airway. Fluids drain out of the mouth instead of pooling at the throat. The head-tilt position keeps the airway open. These three effects together make the recovery position the single most effective way to protect an unconscious person's airway while they are breathing on their own.

It is a core skill taught in HLTAID011 Provide First Aid and sits within the DRSABCD emergency action plan - specifically in the "Breathing" step. If breathing is present after your initial assessment, you place the person in the recovery position and monitor continuously until emergency services arrive.

Learn the recovery position hands-on: SKLD Training - check available course dates

When to Use the Recovery Position

The recovery position is appropriate when a person is:

Unconscious - unresponsive to voice or touch.
Breathing normally - you can see, hear, or feel regular breaths.
Not suspected of having a spinal injury - or, if spinal injury is suspected, only if they are vomiting or their airway cannot otherwise be maintained.

Common situations where the recovery position is used include:

Fainting - a person who has collapsed and is unresponsive.
Alcohol intoxication - an intoxicated person who has lost consciousness and cannot protect their own airway.
Seizure aftermath - once the convulsions have stopped and the person is unconscious but breathing (the post-ictal phase).
Head injury - where the person is unconscious but breathing following a blow to the head.
Drug overdose - where the person has lost consciousness but is still breathing.
Diabetic emergency - hypoglycaemia that has progressed to unconsciousness.

When NOT to Use the Recovery Position

The recovery position is not appropriate in every situation involving an unconscious person. There are three key exceptions:

Situation	What to Do Instead	Why
Not breathing normally	Start CPR immediately (DRSABCD)	The recovery position only works if the person is breathing - CPR is required if they are not
Suspected spinal injury	Keep still, use jaw thrust, call 000 - only roll if airway cannot be maintained	Rolling may worsen a spinal injury and cause paralysis
Conscious person	Assist them to a comfortable position, monitor, reassure	A conscious person can protect their own airway - the recovery position is unnecessary and uncomfortable

A common mistake is placing a conscious but confused or drowsy person into the recovery position. If a person can respond to you - even weakly - they do not need to be rolled. Help them into a comfortable position, keep them still, and monitor them closely.

Another common error is skipping the breathing check. You must confirm the person is breathing before placing them in the recovery position. If you are unsure, treat as though they are not breathing and begin the DRSABCD sequence including CPR.

How to Place Someone in the Recovery Position - Step by Step

The following technique is based on Australian Resuscitation Council (ANZCOR) guidelines as taught in HLTAID011. Practise this on a real person during training - reading about it is not the same as the muscle memory you build doing it.

Check for danger, then check for response. Ensure the scene is safe. Tap the person's shoulders firmly and call their name. If no response, call 000 (or direct someone to call).
Check for normal breathing. Open the airway by tilting the head back and lifting the chin. Look, listen, and feel for normal breathing for up to 10 seconds. If breathing is present, proceed to step 3. If not breathing - start CPR.
Kneel beside the person at their chest level. This gives you leverage for the roll and keeps you stable throughout the technique.
Position the near arm at a right angle to the body. Bend the elbow so the forearm points upward. This arm acts as a stop and prevents the person from rolling all the way onto their front.
Bring the far arm across the chest. Place the back of their far hand gently against the near cheek and hold it there with your hand. This hand placement will support the head during and after the roll.
Bend the far knee upward. Grasp the far knee and pull it up so the foot is flat on the ground. This knee will act as the lever for the roll.
Roll the person toward you. Using the bent knee as your lever, pull the person onto their side in a single, controlled movement. Support the head with your other hand as they roll.
Position the upper knee at a right angle. Adjust the bent knee so it is at 90 degrees to the hip. This stabilises the person in the side-lying position and prevents them from rolling forward or back.
Tilt the head back and open the mouth. Gently extend the neck to open the airway. Tilt the chin down slightly so the mouth faces toward the ground - this allows fluids to drain out naturally.
Check that the airway is open and the person is still breathing. Confirm you can see chest rise and fall. Adjust the head position if needed.
Monitor continuously until help arrives. Stay with the person. Recheck breathing every minute. Be ready to start CPR immediately if breathing stops.

Step	Action	Key Point
1	Check danger and response	Scene safety first - never approach an unsafe scene
2	Confirm normal breathing	Up to 10 seconds - if not breathing, start CPR instead
3	Kneel at chest level	Stable base for controlled roll
4	Extend near arm at right angle	Prevents full roll onto front
5	Place far hand against near cheek	Supports and protects the head during roll
6	Bend far knee upward	Creates lever for the roll
7	Roll toward you using knee	One controlled movement - keep head supported
8	Adjust upper knee to 90 degrees	Stabilises position
9	Tilt head back, mouth down	Opens airway and allows fluids to drain
10-11	Monitor breathing continuously	Be ready to start CPR if breathing stops

The Recovery Position and DRSABCD

The recovery position fits into the DRSABCD action plan at the "B" (Breathing) step. Understanding where it sits helps you respond systematically rather than guessing in a high-stress moment:

D - Danger: Check for hazards before approaching.
R - Response: Check for response from the person.
S - Send for help: Call 000 or direct someone to call.
A - Airway: Open the airway by tilting the head and lifting the chin.
B - Breathing: Check for normal breathing for up to 10 seconds. If breathing - recovery position. If not breathing - proceed to C.
C - CPR: Begin 30 compressions to 2 ventilations if not breathing.
D - Defibrillation: Apply AED as soon as available.

The recovery position is therefore the management step for a specific outcome - unconscious but breathing. It is not a shortcut and it does not replace CPR. If at any point the person stops breathing normally, you must immediately roll them onto their back and begin CPR.

Special Situations: Pregnant Women, Children, and Suspected Spinal Injury

The basic recovery position principle applies in most cases, but three groups require modified thinking.

Pregnant women should be placed on their left side wherever possible. This is the "left lateral" position. It prevents the weight of the uterus from compressing the inferior vena cava (the large vein that returns blood to the heart), which can cause the blood pressure to drop. The technique is the same as the standard recovery position - simply roll toward their left side as your default.

Children and infants can be placed in the recovery position using the same basic technique, but with a gentler touch. Infants should be cradled on their side with their head supported. The principles are identical - side-lying, airway open, mouth slightly down. The size difference simply means the technique requires less force and more care.

Suspected spinal injury requires the most careful judgment. If the mechanism of injury suggests a possible spinal injury (falls, vehicle accidents, diving, head trauma), do not roll the person unless:

They are vomiting and will aspirate (inhale) vomit if not rolled.
You cannot maintain an open airway any other way.
The person is not breathing and CPR is required (in which case roll them and begin CPR).

If you must roll a person with a suspected spinal injury, attempt to keep the head, neck, and spine aligned during the roll - a "log roll" - ideally with a second person supporting the head throughout the movement. Call 000 immediately and do not move the person further than necessary.

Gold Coast Workplace Scenarios Where You Will Use This Skill

The recovery position is not just a classroom exercise. These are the real scenarios Gold Coast workers encounter where this skill is needed:

Retail and hospitality (Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Southport): Staff fainting from heat or long shifts, customers collapsing, intoxicated patrons who have lost consciousness.
Construction and trades (Coomera, Helensvale, Pimpama): Head injuries from falls, heat exhaustion progressing to unconsciousness, workers struck by equipment.
Schools and childcare (Robina, Burleigh Heads, Varsity Lakes): Seizures in children, including post-ictal unconscious phase after convulsions stop.
Aged care and healthcare facilities: Residents or patients who lose consciousness from medication effects, cardiac events, or falls.
Events and entertainment venues: Large crowds at Gold Coast events mean elevated risk of alcohol-related unconsciousness, heatstroke, and fainting.
Fitness and gym environments: Members who lose consciousness during exercise from cardiac events, dehydration, or overexertion.

Across all of these settings, the skill is the same. What changes is the context - and your ability to stay calm and respond correctly is built through practical training, not from reading a guide like this one. Training where you physically roll a real person builds the muscle memory that makes the technique available to you automatically under stress.

Practise the recovery position with a qualified trainer: SKLD Training - book a first aid course on the Gold Coast

Why Hands-On Training Builds the Muscle Memory Reading Cannot

The recovery position takes approximately 30 seconds to perform correctly when you know what you are doing. For someone who has only read about it, it can take several confused, hesitant minutes - and every second matters when someone is unconscious.

In a nationally recognised first aid course (HLTAID011 Provide First Aid), you will:

Practise the recovery position on a real person (a fellow trainee), not just a manikin.
Repeat the technique multiple times until the sequence becomes automatic.
Respond to simulated scenarios where you must decide whether to use the recovery position, start CPR, or hold and monitor.
Receive immediate feedback from a qualified trainer on your technique, arm positioning, and head tilt.

The decision-making element is just as important as the physical technique. Knowing when to use the recovery position - and when not to - requires practice in realistic scenarios, not just memorising a checklist.

The Australian Resuscitation Council and ANZCOR guidelines recommend that first aid training include competency assessment in practical skills including airway management and the recovery position. (HLTAID011 - training.gov.au)

Frequently Asked Questions

When should you put someone in the recovery position?

Put someone in the recovery position when they are unconscious but breathing normally. This is the key condition - both elements must be present. If the person is conscious (even drowsy or confused), they do not need the recovery position. If the person is not breathing normally, do not place them in the recovery position - begin CPR immediately as part of the DRSABCD sequence. Always call 000 before or immediately after beginning management.

Can you put a pregnant woman in the recovery position?

Yes - and you should if she is unconscious and breathing. For a pregnant woman, use the left lateral recovery position - roll her onto her left side rather than her right. This is because lying on the right side can compress the inferior vena cava (a large vein returning blood to the heart), which reduces blood pressure and blood flow to both mother and baby. The technique is otherwise identical to the standard recovery position.

What if you suspect a spinal injury?

If you suspect a spinal injury, do not roll the person unless their airway cannot otherwise be maintained or they are actively vomiting. Keep the person as still as possible, call 000, and maintain the airway using a jaw thrust (push the lower jaw forward from behind the ears) rather than a head tilt. If the person is not breathing, the need to start CPR overrides spinal precautions - roll them carefully (log roll if possible) and begin compressions.

How long do you leave someone in the recovery position?

You can leave a person in the recovery position for as long as necessary while waiting for emergency services. However, if you are waiting for a prolonged period (roughly 30 minutes or more), consider gently rolling them to the opposite side to reduce pressure on the lower arm and improve circulation. More importantly, never leave the person unattended - monitor their breathing every minute and be ready to start CPR immediately if breathing stops or becomes abnormal.

Is the recovery position the same for children?

The principle is the same - side-lying, airway open, mouth slightly angled toward the ground - but the technique is gentler and requires less force. For infants (under 1 year), you should cradle them on their side with one hand supporting the head and the other supporting the body, rather than rolling them independently. For older children, the standard recovery position technique applies with appropriate care for their smaller size. These techniques are covered in HLTAID012 Provide First Aid in an Education and Care Setting.

What do you do if they stop breathing in the recovery position?

Roll them onto their back immediately and begin CPR. Do not hesitate. If someone in the recovery position stops breathing normally - or you are unsure whether they are still breathing - treat it as a cardiac arrest and start CPR (30 compressions to 2 ventilations). Apply an AED as soon as one is available. Continue CPR until the person begins breathing normally, emergency services take over, or you are physically unable to continue. Monitoring breathing continuously while the person is in the recovery position is what allows you to catch this the moment it happens.

Be ready to act in a real emergency: Book a first aid course with SKLD Training on the Gold Coast

Training and assessment delivered on behalf of Allens Training Pty Ltd RTO 90909.