CPR and the Recovery Position
Responding to an unresponsive adult: check safety and response, call emergency services, check normal breathing, start CPR when needed and follow an automated external defibrillator's prompts. Includes recovery-position care, continued breathing checks and the limits of adult CPR instructions for children.
What a learner can do afterwards
- Explain scene safety, checking response, calling emergency services and checking normal breathing, including why occasional gasps do not count as normal breathing
- Practise adult chest compressions on a CPR manikin for two minutes at 5 to 6 cm deep and 100 to 120 a minute, allowing the chest to rise fully
- Practise the recovery position with a trained instructor and explain airway protection, injury precautions and continued breathing checks
- Explain how an automated external defibrillator checks the heart rhythm, guides an untrained user and requires everyone to stand clear during analysis and shocks
1 · Read
You have learnt to check for danger and give the location when calling for help. This later stage, for ages 14 to 16, adds physical skills to practise with a trained instructor. Approach only if safe. Speak loudly and gently tap the adult's shoulders. Do not shake hard or use painful tests. If there is no response, call emergency services at once. Use speakerphone, give the location early and follow the handler. Ask another person to fetch an automated external defibrillator, or AED.
Open the airway by gently tilting the head back and lifting the chin. Check for normal breathing for no more than ten seconds. Look for chest movement and listen for breathing. Occasional gasps are not normal breathing. Noisy breathing alone does not show that breathing is normal. If unsure, tell the call handler and follow their instructions. Do not delay CPR to search for a pulse.
Lay the adult on their back on a firm, flat surface. Put the heel of one hand on the lower half of the breastbone, in the centre of the chest. Put the other hand on top and interlock your fingers. With straight arms, press 5 to 6 cm deep at 100 to 120 a minute. Let the chest rise fully after each push. Compressions help move blood. Practise compressions only on a CPR manikin, never on a person.
If trained and willing, give 30 adult compressions followed by two rescue breaths. Otherwise, keep giving chest compressions and follow the call handler. Children and infants need age-specific CPR. Do not use adult compression depth for a small child. Rescue breaths are especially important for children and after drowning. This page does not teach full child or infant CPR. Follow the handler's age-specific instructions without waiting for a trained rescuer.
Keep pauses short. A helper can answer unrelated calls while you compress. Pause when the AED says to stand clear; resume CPR when prompted. If normal breathing returns, stop compressions, reassess and follow the handler. Otherwise continue until emergency workers take over, you cannot continue, or the scene becomes unsafe. The handler can guide you if you feel unsure.
An unresponsive adult who breathes normally and has no suspected major injury can be placed in the recovery position. A gentle head tilt helps keep the airway open, and angling the mouth down lets fluids drain. If a serious injury is suspected, avoid unnecessary movement and follow the call handler. Airway care or lifesaving help may still require movement. Practise the recovery position with a trained instructor and a willing partner.
Kneel beside the adult. Put the near arm out at a right angle, palm up. Hold the far hand against the near cheek. Bend the far knee with the foot on the floor. Pull that knee towards you, keeping the hand at the cheek, to roll them onto their side. Bend the top hip and knee to support them. Gently tilt the head back to open the airway. Angle the mouth down so fluids can drain.
Keep checking breathing while help is coming, including after placing someone in the recovery position. Tell the call handler about any change. If the adult remains unresponsive and breathing becomes abnormal, roll them onto their back and start CPR. Do not leave them on their side and wait.
An AED checks the heart rhythm and advises a shock only for rhythms a shock can treat. You do not need prior training to use one. Turn it on, attach pads to bare, dry skin as their pictures show, and follow its prompts. No one should touch the person during rhythm analysis or a shock. No shock advised does not mean recovery. Resume CPR when prompted unless normal breathing has returned; then reassess and follow the handler.
Check safety and response, call for help, then check breathing. Start adult CPR if needed. Follow AED prompts. Use the recovery position when appropriate and keep checking breathing.
Lesson, questions and flashcards written for this dataset. Physical first-aid skills need practice with a trained instructor.
Five readings and six flashcards written for this dataset. Physical first-aid skills need practice with a trained instructor.
More to read
Helping after an adult collapses
Before going closer, check for danger. If the area is unsafe, stay back and call emergency services. If you can approach safely, speak loudly and gently tap the adult's shoulders. No response means an emergency call is needed at once. Give the location early. Use speakerphone and follow the call handler. Ask another person to bring an automated external defibrillator, or AED.
Gently tilt the head back and lift the chin to open the airway. Spend no more than ten seconds checking normal breathing. Occasional gasps do not count as normal breathing. Tell the handler if you are unsure, and do not delay CPR while searching for a pulse.
An unresponsive adult without normal breathing needs CPR. Lay them on their back on a firm, flat surface. Put the heel of one hand on the lower half of the breastbone, with the other hand on top. Press 5 to 6 cm deep at 100 to 120 a minute and let the chest rise fully after each push. If trained and willing, use 30 compressions followed by two rescue breaths. Otherwise, continue chest compressions and follow the handler.
Use an AED when available and follow its prompts. If normal breathing returns, stop compressions, reassess and follow the handler. Otherwise continue until emergency workers take over, you cannot continue, or the scene becomes unsafe. Practise compressions only on a CPR manikin.
When the person is a child
Practising adult CPR does not teach the whole procedure for a child or infant. Their compression method must suit their age and size. Do not apply the adult 5 to 6 cm depth rule to a small child. Rescue breaths are especially important for children and after drowning.
If a child is unresponsive and not breathing normally, call emergency services. Put the phone on speaker when possible and follow the call handler's age-specific instructions. Ask another person to help and fetch an AED. Do not wait for a trained rescuer before following emergency instructions.
This reading explains the limits of adult CPR knowledge. It is not a child or infant CPR course. Learn those procedures with a trained instructor and a suitable manikin. Never practise chest compressions on a child, infant or other person.
What an AED can and cannot do
An automated external defibrillator, or AED, checks the heart's electrical rhythm. A shock can treat some dangerous rhythms, but not all of them. The device decides whether a shock is advised. A person without prior training can use it by following its instructions.
Turn the AED on. Attach its pads to bare, dry chest skin where the pad pictures show. Follow the device's spoken or displayed prompts. Everyone must stop touching the person during rhythm analysis and any shock. Touching during analysis can interfere with the reading. Touching during a shock can expose a helper to the shock.
No shock advised does not mean that the person has recovered. Resume CPR when prompted unless normal breathing has returned. If normal breathing returns, reassess and follow the call handler. Leave the pads attached and keep following the AED's instructions. The device helps with shock treatment; chest compressions are still needed when the person remains unresponsive and is not breathing normally.
Care in the recovery position
Call emergency services for an unresponsive adult even when breathing is normal. If there is no suspected major injury, the recovery position helps keep the airway open and lets fluids leave the mouth.
Kneel beside the adult. Move the near arm out to a right angle, palm up. Bring the far hand to the near cheek and hold it there. Bend the far knee so its foot rests on the floor. Pull the bent knee towards you while keeping the hand at the cheek. This rolls the person onto their side. Bend the top hip and knee to support the position. Gently tilt the head back and angle the mouth down.
Keep checking breathing. If the adult remains unresponsive and breathing becomes abnormal, roll them onto their back and start CPR. Tell the call handler about the change.
A suspected serious injury changes movement decisions. Avoid unnecessary movement and follow the call handler's directions. Airway care or lifesaving help may still require movement. Practise the recovery position with a trained instructor and a willing partner.
Getting guidance when you feel unsure
Seeing someone collapse can be frightening. A bystander may hesitate because they fear causing harm or attracting attention. You do not need to work out the cause before calling emergency services. Check safety, try a loud voice and a gentle shoulder tap, and call immediately if there is no response. Do not spend minutes trying to wake the person or use painful tests.
Give the incident location early. Tell the call handler what happened, whether the person responds and whether breathing is normal. Use speakerphone when possible so you can follow directions while helping. Give another bystander a clear task, such as bringing an AED or handling an unrelated phone call.
Appropriate action still has safety limits. Do not enter a dangerous area. Keep everyone clear during AED analysis and shocks. Follow the handler rather than delaying care to find someone with training.
Before an emergency, hands-on practice can make these tasks more familiar. Use a CPR manikin for compression practice and a trained instructor for physical skills. Correct quiz answers do not demonstrate the strength, movement or technique those skills require.
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