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 a pulse
Does not have a suspected spinal injury
The goal is to keep the airway open and reduce the risk of choking while waiting for emergency medical help.
Common situations where the recovery position is appropriate include:
Fainting (syncope)
Alcohol intoxication with a risk of vomiting
Opioid or drug overdose after normal breathing has returned
The recovery period after a seizure, when the person is breathing but not yet fully alert
Severe low blood sugar that causes unconsciousness
After successful CPR, once the person is breathing normally on their own
Do not use the recovery position if:
The person is not breathing or is only gasping. Lay them flat on their back and begin CPR immediately.
You suspect a spinal injury from a fall, vehicle crash, or significant trauma. Move the person only if leaving them in place puts their airway at immediate risk.
CPR or Recovery Position First: A Clear Decision Framework
CPR and the recovery position are never performed at the same time. They sit at different points in the same emergency response. The deciding factor is always breathing. Work through the checks below: confirm the scene is safe, tap and shout to check responsiveness, call 911, then check for normal breathing for no more than 10 seconds.
You may also hear about ABC versus CAB in first aid training. ABC stands for Airway, Breathing, Circulation, and describes the assessment order that tells you whether the recovery position is appropriate. CAB stands for Compressions, Airway, Breathing, and is the order used once you have decided to perform CPR, because current AHA guidelines put chest compressions first. Your assessment tells you which path to follow, and the recovery position lives on the breathing side of that decision.
How to Put Someone in the Recovery Position: Step by Step
Once you have confirmed the person is unconscious, breathing normally, and has no suspected spinal injury, follow these steps. Every movement should be controlled and gentle.
Kneel beside the person while they lie on their back and straighten their legs. Remove glasses and any bulky items from their pockets, but do not search pockets for small objects.
Place the arm nearest to you out at a right angle to the body, with the elbow bent and the palm facing upward.
Bring their far arm across the chest and hold the back of that hand against the cheek nearest to you.
With your other hand, lift the far knee until the foot is flat on the floor, keeping the leg bent at a right angle.
Holding the hand against the cheek, pull on the bent knee and roll the person toward you onto their side.
Adjust the upper leg so both the hip and knee are bent at right angles. This stops the person from rolling onto their front.
Gently tilt the head back and lift the chin to keep the airway open. Check that nothing is blocking the mouth and clear any visible fluid or debris.
Stay with the person, monitor their breathing continuously, and be ready to start CPR if breathing stops. Do not leave them alone at any point.
If they vomit while in the recovery position, clear the airway quickly and readjust the position. Keep a coat or blanket nearby to keep them warm while you wait for paramedics, and do not offer anything to eat or drink.
What to Do After CPR Is Successful
If a person starts breathing again after CPR, they have achieved return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). This does not mean the emergency is over. They still need close monitoring until emergency medical services arrive.
After breathing returns:
Place the person in the recovery position to help keep the airway open.
Watch their breathing closely and be prepared to act if their condition changes.
If they stop breathing or begin gasping again, lay them flat on their back and restart CPR immediately.
Why the recovery position is important after CPR:
Reduces the risk of choking: Vomiting is common after CPR. The recovery position allows vomit or fluids to drain from the mouth instead of entering the lungs.
Allows quick monitoring: A person can go back into cardiac arrest without warning, so continue watching for normal breathing until help arrives.
If the person has injured ribs:
Roll them gently into the recovery position if you suspect rib fractures from CPR.
Do not let concerns about rib injuries prevent you from protecting the airway. Keeping the airway open is always the top priority.
Rib fractures from CPR typically heal within six to eight weeks, and they are a known, acceptable tradeoff for restoring circulation during cardiac arrest.
Why the Recovery Position Often Uses the Left Side
For most unconscious but breathing people, either side is acceptable. In many situations, you simply roll the person toward you, so the side you choose depends on your position.
The left side is preferred in these situations:
Pregnancy: An unconscious pregnant person should be placed on their left side. This relieves pressure on the inferior vena cava, a large vein that returns blood to the heart, helping maintain healthy blood flow to both the parent and the baby.
Poisoning or Drug Overdose: A left-side recovery position may help slow the movement of stomach contents into the small intestine, potentially reducing how quickly some swallowed substances are absorbed.
No matter which side you use:
Keep the head tilted slightly back to help keep the airway open.
Angle the face downward so saliva, blood, or vomit can drain from the mouth.
Continue monitoring breathing until emergency medical services arrive.
The position of the head is just as important as the side the person is lying on. An open airway and proper drainage are the primary goals of the recovery position.
Recovery Position Variations: Adults, Infants, and Suspected Spinal Injury
Infants Under One Year Old
Do not place an infant in the standard floor-based recovery position. Instead:
Hold the baby securely in your arms.
Position them on their side with the head slightly lower than the stomach to help fluids drain.
Support the head and neck at all times.
Monitor breathing closely. If the infant stops breathing, begin infant CPR immediately.
Suspected Spinal Injury: The HAINES Position
If a neck or back injury is suspected, do not move the person unless the airway is at immediate risk.
If movement is necessary and you are trained, the HAINES (High Arm IN Endangered Spine) position may be used because it helps reduce neck movement during the roll.
Raise one arm above the person’s head before rolling.
The head rests on the raised arm to help keep the spine aligned.
If another rescuer is available, one person should stabilize the head and neck while the other performs the roll.
How Long Should Someone Stay in the Recovery Position?
Keep the person in the recovery position until:
Emergency medical services take over, or
They wake up and can protect their own airway.
While waiting:
Check regularly to make sure they continue breathing normally.
If breathing stops or becomes gasping, roll the person onto their back and begin CPR immediately.
If they remain in the recovery position for more than 30 minutes, gently turn them onto the opposite side to relieve pressure and improve circulation while continuing to protect the airway.
Ready to Make These Steps Automatic
Reading about the recovery position builds understanding, but real confidence only comes from practice. In an actual emergency, you want the steps to feel automatic so you can stay calm and act quickly without second-guessing yourself. That is what hands-on and guided online training provides.
At SimpleCPR, our online CPR, AED, BLS, and First Aid certification courses are built around the latest AHA guidelines, so you learn the recovery position and the full CPR sequence in the right context. Courses take 60 minutes or less, you can print your certification card immediately upon completion, and we offer a 100% money-back guarantee with unlimited exam retakes. Whether you are an individual getting certified for the first time, a healthcare professional renewing your BLS certification, or an employer training a whole team, we have a course that fits.
Explore our course options and take the step that means you will never have to wonder what to do when it matters most.
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