Unconscious and breathing
'I was at the pool. I slipped. I banged my head. Blacked out.
Luckily, Dad was there. I’d be OK. Dad would know first aid. He’d
know to lie me on my side. Keep me breathing. But Dad didn’t
know.'
Thousands of people die needlessly every year in the UK because
they're left on their back when they are unconscious.
Leaving someone in this position makes it easy for the airway to
be blocked by their tongue or vomit. They can't breathe. But
20% of people told St John Ambulance that they’d treat an
unconscious person by lying them on their back and raising their
legs.
And of the people who said they’d know what to do, a third
wouldn’t give the right treatment – checking their breathing and
put them in the recovery position. Put life saving information in
your pocket with a free first aid
guide.
How to be the
difference for someone unconscious