Quick answer — when to use the recovery position

Place someone in the recovery position when they are unconscious but breathing normally. This is the B (Breathing) step in the DRSABCD emergency action plan — once you have confirmed that the person is unresponsive, called 000, opened their airway, and determined they are breathing normally, the recovery position is the correct action.

Do NOT place someone in the recovery position if they are not breathing — begin CPR immediately instead. The recovery position is only for an unconscious person who IS breathing.

Why the recovery position saves lives

When someone is unconscious and lying on their back, three things can block their airway and cause death even though their heart is still beating:

• The tongue — in an unconscious person, muscle tone is lost. The tongue falls backward against the throat and obstructs the airway
• Vomit — many medical emergencies that cause unconsciousness (head injury, alcohol intoxication, drug overdose, seizures) also cause vomiting. A person lying on their back can aspirate vomit into their lungs
• Saliva and blood — accumulating fluids in the mouth and throat cannot drain when the person is supine

The recovery position solves all three problems. By turning the person onto their side with the head tilted slightly downward, gravity keeps the tongue forward and allows fluids to drain from the mouth rather than pooling in the airway.

Without the recovery position, an unconscious person who is breathing can stop breathing. This is a preventable death — and it is the reason every first aid course in Australia teaches this technique.

How to place someone in the recovery position — step by step

These steps follow the technique taught in HLTAID011 Provide First Aid and HLTAID009 Provide CPR, consistent with Australian Resuscitation Council 2026 guidelines.

Before you start

• Confirm the person is unconscious (no response to voice or touch)
• Confirm they are breathing normally (regular chest rise, air felt on your cheek)
• Ensure 000 has been called
• Check for any obvious injuries — if a spinal injury is suspected, do not roll the person unless their airway is compromised

Step 1 — Position yourself

Kneel beside the person at chest level. Make sure there is enough clear space to roll them toward you.

Step 2 — Prepare the near arm

Take the arm closest to you and place it at a right angle to the body, with the elbow bent and the palm facing upward. This arm acts as a stabiliser and prevents the person from rolling onto their face.

Step 3 — Position the far arm

Reach across the person and take their far hand. Place the back of that hand against their near cheek (the cheek closest to you). Hold it there — this will cushion their head when they roll.

Step 4 — Bend the far knee

With your other hand, grasp the far knee and pull it up so the foot is flat on the ground. The bent knee provides leverage for the roll and acts as a prop to prevent them from rolling onto their face once in position.

Step 5 — Roll toward you

Keeping their hand pressed against their cheek, pull on the bent knee to roll the person smoothly toward you onto their side. Use the knee as the pivot point — pull it steadily; the rest of the body will follow.

Step 6 — Adjust the position

Once on their side, adjust the upper leg so the hip and knee are both bent at right angles, stabilising the body. Ensure the head is tilted slightly back to keep the airway open. The hand under the cheek cushions the head.

Step 7 — Open the mouth

Gently open the mouth to allow any fluids to drain. If vomit or blood is visible, let it drain out — do not try to wipe out the mouth while the person is unconscious.

Step 8 — Monitor continuously

Stay with the person. Check their breathing every minute. If they stop breathing at any point, roll them onto their back immediately and begin CPR. Continue monitoring until paramedics arrive.

Recovery position for special situations

Suspected spinal injury

If a spinal injury is suspected (fall from height, vehicle accident, diving accident, significant blow to the head), avoid moving the person unless their airway is at immediate risk. If you must turn them, use the log-roll technique with at least two rescuers — keeping the head, neck, and spine aligned as a single unit throughout the roll. One rescuer holds the head and neck while the other rolls the body.

If you are alone and the person’s airway is compromised (vomiting while supine), placing them in the recovery position is the lesser risk — airway obstruction is immediately life-threatening, while a spinal injury is a slower-developing risk.

Pregnant women

Always place a pregnant woman on her left side. In late pregnancy, the weight of the uterus can compress the inferior vena cava (a major blood vessel) when lying on the back or right side, reducing blood return to the heart. The left lateral position avoids this compression and maintains blood flow to both mother and baby.

Children and infants

The same recovery position technique applies to children. For infants under 12 months, cradle the baby in your arms with the head tilted slightly downward to allow fluid drainage, rather than placing them on the ground in the standard adult recovery position. Ensure the airway remains open and monitor breathing continuously.

These variations are taught in HLTAID012 Provide First Aid in an Education and Care Setting ($95), specifically designed for childcare and education workers.

After a seizure

Once a seizure has ended, the person is often temporarily unconscious. If they are breathing normally, place them in the recovery position and monitor. Do not restrain them or put anything in their mouth. Time the seizure — if it lasts more than 5 minutes, call 000. If a second seizure follows without the person regaining consciousness, call 000 immediately.

Common mistakes with the recovery position

Placing someone who is NOT breathing into the recovery position

This is the most dangerous mistake. If the person is not breathing normally, they need CPR — not the recovery position. The recovery position is only for unconscious people who ARE breathing. When in doubt, start CPR. You cannot harm someone by performing CPR on a person who is breathing — but you can kill someone by placing a non-breathing person on their side and waiting.

Not monitoring after placement

The recovery position is not a "set and forget" action. An unconscious person can stop breathing at any time. Stay beside them, check breathing every minute, and be ready to roll them onto their back and begin CPR if breathing stops.

Rolling onto the wrong side

For most people, either side is acceptable. For pregnant women, always use the left side. For people with chest injuries, place the injured side down (gravity helps prevent blood pooling in the uninjured lung).

Hyperextending the head

When tilting the head back to open the airway, use a gentle, controlled tilt — not a forceful push backward. Excessive head extension can paradoxically obstruct the airway, particularly in children and infants.

Recovery position and the DRSABCD action plan

The recovery position fits within step B (Breathing) of the DRSABCD protocol:

• D — Check for danger
• R — Check response (unresponsive)
• S — Send for help (call 000)
• A — Open airway (head-tilt chin-lift)
• B — Check breathing → if breathing normally → recovery position → if NOT breathing → proceed to C (CPR)
• C — CPR (30 compressions : 2 breaths)
• D — Defibrillation (AED)

The decision at step B is the critical fork in the DRSABCD protocol. Normal breathing leads to the recovery position and ongoing monitoring. Absent or abnormal breathing (including agonal gasping) leads immediately to CPR. Getting this decision right is the single most important skill in first aid.

Learn the recovery position at our North Brisbane venues

The recovery position is practised hands-on in both HLTAID009 Provide CPR ($45, 2 hours) and HLTAID011 Provide First Aid ($95, 4 hours). You’ll practise on training mannequins and with fellow students, with real-time feedback from qualified paramedic instructors.

IRFA delivers training at four North Brisbane venues:

Redcliffe Peninsula — Redcliffe RSL

Irene Street, Redcliffe QLD 4020. On-site parking. Serving Redcliffe, Scarborough, Kippa-Ring, and surrounding suburbs.

North Lakes — Community Centre

10 The Corso, North Lakes QLD 4509. Near Westfield. Serving North Lakes, Mango Hill, Griffin, Dakabin, and Kallangur.

Virginia / Northgate — Northgate Hall

34 Ridge Street, Virginia QLD 4014. 5 minutes from Northgate Station. Serving inner north Brisbane, Banyo, Nudgee, and Nundah.

Caboolture — Caboolture Hub

4 Hasking Street, Caboolture QLD 4510. Near train station with free parking. Serving Caboolture, Morayfield, and Burpengary.

Sessions run 7 days a week including 7 AM early starts. Same-day certificates under RTO 32154. View all North Brisbane courses and book online →

Frequently asked questions

What is the recovery position used for?

The recovery position is used for unconscious people who are breathing normally. It keeps the airway open by preventing the tongue from blocking the throat and allows vomit, blood, or saliva to drain from the mouth rather than entering the lungs.

Which side do you put someone in the recovery position?

Either side is acceptable for most people. For pregnant women, always use the left side. For people with a chest injury, place the injured side down. The most important thing is that they are on their side with the airway open, not which specific side.

When should you NOT use the recovery position?

Do not use the recovery position if the person is not breathing — begin CPR immediately instead. Also avoid rolling someone with a suspected spinal injury unless their airway is at immediate risk from vomiting or obstruction.

How long do you keep someone in the recovery position?

Keep them in the recovery position and monitor their breathing continuously until paramedics arrive. Check breathing every minute. If they stop breathing, roll them onto their back and start CPR immediately.

Is the recovery position taught in first aid courses?

Yes. The recovery position is a core practical skill in both HLTAID009 Provide CPR ($45) and HLTAID011 Provide First Aid ($95). IRFA teaches it hands-on at Redcliffe, North Lakes, Virginia/Northgate, and Caboolture, with same-day certification under RTO 32154.

Can you put a baby in the recovery position?

For infants under 12 months, cradle the baby in your arms with the head tilted slightly downward rather than placing them on the ground. For children over 1 year, use the standard adult recovery position technique. This is covered in HLTAID012 Provide First Aid in an Education and Care Setting.