What should you do?
If CONSCIOUS:
- If the victim is conscious, lay him or her down, with head and shoulders slightly raised on pillows or cushions.
- Turn her head to one side to allow saliva to drain from the mouth.
- Call the victim’s doctor, or call the emergency services and ask for an ambulance.
- Loosen clothing around the victim’s neck, chest and waist to help blood circulation and breathing.
- Do not give her anything to eat or drink.
If UNCONSCIOUS:
- With the casualty on his back, place the far arm at right angles to the body and raise the near leg by bending it at the knee. Place the near arm across the chest with the fingers pointing to the far shoulder.
- With one hand under his near shoulder and the other under his hip, turn him gently away from you onto his side. Keep the upper leg bent and the lower leg straight. Place the upper arm across the lower arm at the elbow.
- Tilt his head back, supporting his jaw, and clear the airway. Make sure his face is turned slightly downwards. This position ensures that the tongue does not block the throat and that any fluid drains from the mouth.
- Cover the casualty if necessary to maintain body temperature as near to normal as possible, but keep him under observation. Pay particular attention to his airway which must remain open, and to his breathing and circulation.
Casualty is Unconscious but Breathing
- Check whether the casualty is conscious or not. Speak loudly to her and give a simple command such as: “Squeeze my hand!”. If there is no response, she is unconscious. Put her in the lateral (side) recovery position.
- With the casualty now on her side, check the airway. Clear the mouth of foreign matter with your finger. Keep her head tilted back with her face turned slightly downwards to allow fluid to drain from her mouth. Support her jaw.
- Check the casualty’s breathing by watching for movement of the lower chest and abdomen, and by listening for the sound of air escaping from her mouth and nose. If she is breathing, leave her in the lateral recovery position.
- Check the casualty’s head remains tilted back. Watch constantly for changes in her condition and be prepared to give further first aid if necessary. Never put pillows or coats under the casualty’s head or neck.
If Casualty in Unconscious and not Breathing
- If, having checked the airway and breathing, you find the casualty is not breathing, turn her quickly onto her back and start expired air resuscitation. Continue until spontaneous breathing occurs.
- Check the pulse in the neck, and if there is no pulse begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (expired air resuscitation alternating with chest compressions.) When breathing and pulse return, turn her into the recovery position.
While you wait for help
- Once the casualty is safely in the lateral recovery position, loosen any tight clothing at the neck, chest and waist to assist breathing and blood circulation. Stay with her and check the airway, breathing and circulation often.
- Check for any injuries and stop any bleeding. Call the emergency services if you do so without leaving the casualty unattended for more than a minute or so; if not, get someone else to do it.
