How to Put Someone in the Recovery Position

March 24, 2026
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The recovery position is a vital part of first aid that can help to prevent serious injury and death. Having a basic knowledge of first aid can be life saving and help you to act quickly in the event of an emergency. In this article we will outline what the recovery position is, when you should use it and how to correctly put someone in the recovery position.

What is the Recovery Position? 

The recovery position is a position that an individual is placed into after an injury. The position keeps airways clear and open and ensures that any vomit or fluid will not cause the individual to choke. Putting someone in the recovery position can help to keep them safe from further harm until they recover or further help arrives.   

Emergency services

When to Use the Recovery Position

If an individual is unconscious but breathing and has no other life-threatening conditions then they should be placed in the recovery position. If you suspect that a casualty may have a spinal injury then you must not attempt to move them and you should wait till the emergency services arrive before you do so. However, it may still be necessary to open their airway and so this should be done gently with care taken not to move their neck. 

If a casualty is unresponsive and breathing abnormally then you must start CPR immediately. 

Why is the Recovery Position Important? 

The recovery position is important as it helps to keep a person’s airway open, ensuring that they can breathe normally and that there are no obstructions. It can also help to ensure that a person does not choke on any fluids such as water or vomit. 

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Recovery Position Steps

To place someone in the recovery position you should follow these steps:

  • Remove any obstacles such as glasses.
  • With the casualty on their back, kneel at their side. 
  • Place the arm nearest to you at a right angle to their body with their palm facing up.
  • Take their other arm and fold it so the back of their hand rests on the cheek closest to you and hold it in place.
  • Use your free hand to bend the person’s knee that is farthest away from you at a right angle. 
  • Carefully roll the person onto their side by pulling the bent knee towards you. 
  • The person’s bent arm should support their head and their extended arm will stop you rolling them too far. 
  • Make sure their bent leg is at a right angle.
  • Open their airway by gently tilting their head back and lifting their chin and check that nothing is blocking their airway. 
  • Stay with the person and monitor their condition until help arrives.

If you think a person may have a spinal injury, do not attempt to move them until the emergency services reach you. 

Putting someone in the recovery position

The recovery position is the same for adults and children but is different for infants. 

To put an infant in the recovery position:

  • Pick them up and cradle them in your arms.
  • Gently position the infant so that their head is tilted back and angled downwards. This can prevent them from choking on or inhaling vomit.
  • Make sure that the infant is still breathing. You may need to perform CPR if their condition deteriorates. 
  • Contact the emergency services on 999 or 112 if they have not already been called. 
  • Continue to monitor the infant until medical help arrives. 

The recovery position is a vital part of first aid that can help to keep a casualty safe and comfortable until the emergency services arrive. 

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