Safe Airway Position (SAP)
In first aid there are many “recovery positions”. The one commonly referred to as this has one primary aim. To maintain the airway.
Once you’ve done the top-to-toe survey, checked pockets and removed glasses, you should place your casualty into the safe airway positions because:
- It will help to maintain the casualty’s airway if you have to leave to get help.
- It will allow vomit or fluid in the mouth to exit.
- It will avoid positional asphyxiation.
Left or right side?
Which side you place a casualty on will depend on:
- Any obstacles (walls, furniture, machinery…)
- If they have any injury (injury side down)
- If they are pregnant (left side)
Ideal Recovery Position
- Place the nearest arm to you out to the side with their palm facing upwards ensuring you don’t over extend their shoulder. Take care if the casualty is elderly / a child.
2. Bring the far arm across their body and hold the back of their hand against their cheek nearest to you.
3. Raise the far knee off the ground placing your hand on the outside of the knee. This can be done by grabbing clothing or pinching the nerve in the back of the knee.
4. Keeping the hand pressed against their cheek, pull the casualty towards you onto their side.
5. Adjust their bent leg so it’s at 90 degrees and in line with their hip.
6. Ensure their airway is still open and they are breathing normally. Check regularly.1
Being Pregnant
Always place an unresponsive pregnant woman onto her left hand side. This prevents compression of inferior vena cava (large vein) by the uterus, which could be fatal to both mother and child.
After 30 minutes, roll her onto her back and massage down her left arm to aid circulation and then place her back onto her left side. Repeat every 10 minutes as necessary.
Maintaining The Airway
Sometimes the ideal position might not be possible. If someone is lying in prone position, simply bringing one bent leg out to the side at 90 degrees to their hip is enough to enable breathing.
1 If the casualty stops breathing you must commence CPR immediately.
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