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Recovery Position in CPR: When to Use It, How to Do It, and What Comes After

  What Does the Recovery Position Mean? The recovery position is a first aid technique used to place an unconscious but breathing person on their side to help keep the airway open and clear. It is also known as the rescue position, lateral recovery position, or simply the side position. Regardless of the name, the purpose is the same: to protect the airway while waiting for emergency medical help. When a person becomes unconscious, their natural cough and gag reflexes weaken. If they remain flat on their back, the tongue can fall backward and block the airway, while vomit, blood, or saliva can collect in the throat and be inhaled into the lungs. Placing the person on their side with the head slightly tilted downward allows fluids to drain from the mouth and helps keep the airway open, reducing the risk of choking or suffocation. When to Use the Recovery Position (and When Not To) Use the recovery position only if the person: Is unconscious or unresponsive Is breathing normally Has ...
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What Does CAB Stand For in CPR?

  CAB in CPR stands for Compressions, Airway, and Breathing, and the order of those three letters is not a coincidence. It is the sequence the American Heart Association (AHA) directs rescuers to follow during cardiac arrest, and it has been the current standard since 2010. Starting with compressions instead of the airway keeps blood moving to the brain immediately, buying the critical minutes that matter most before emergency help arrives. C Is for Compressions The C stands for chest compressions, not circulation. That distinction matters because in the older ABC method, the C at the end stood for circulation. In CAB, compressions come first, and for good reason. For an adult, push straight down on the lower half of the breastbone at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute and a depth of at least 2 inches (but no more than 2.4 inches). Allow the chest to fully recoil between each push, and keep any interruptions under 10 seconds. Those pauses cost blood flow, and blood flow i...
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