Recovery position and basic cardiac massage

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Recovery position and basic cardiac massage: the essential gestures to know for the theory exam and for the road.

Coverage, Recovery position and basic cardiac massage

Lesson objectives

Understand when and why to perform the recovery position and cardiac massage Master the technique of the Recovery Position (RP) Know the principles of cardiac massage: the rhythm 30 compressions + 2 breaths

Assess: consciousness and breathing, not the pulse

Two questions only, and in this order. 1. Is the victim responding? Speak to them loudly, gently shake their shoulders. No response: they are unconscious. 2. Are they breathing normally? Tilt the head back, chin raised, then for a maximum of 10 seconds : watch the chest rise, listen, feel the breath on your cheek. Slow and noisy gasps are not normal breathing. Do not check for a pulse. Current resuscitation guidelines have removed it from the assessment of non-professional rescuers: pulse-taking is unreliable and wastes crucial time. Consciousness and breathing are sufficient to decide. Unconscious and breathing normally → Recovery position . Unconscious and not breathing normally → resuscitation .

Quick assessment of an unconscious victim

The Recovery Position (RP)

The Recovery Position is used when the victim is unconscious but breathing . This position prevents choking in case of vomiting and keeps the airway open.

Recovery Position (RP)

Recovery position for an unconscious but breathing victim. It prevents airway obstruction and choking in case of vomiting.

How to place a victim in the recovery position: steps

Placing in recovery position: the sequence

1. Kneel beside the victim, lying on their back, legs extended 2. Place the arm closest to you at a right angle, elbow bent, palm facing up 3. Bring the other arm across the chest and hold the back of their hand against their cheek 4. With your other hand, grasp the opposite leg just above the knee and lift it, foot on the ground 5. Pull on the knee to roll the victim towards you , onto their side 6. Adjust the upper leg: hip and knee at a right angle 7. Tilt the head back to clear the airway, the hand under the cheek maintaining this position, the mouth facing the ground 8. Check breathing regularly until emergency services arrive Do not turn the head alone: the entire body rolls as one unit, the head following the axis of the trunk.

Placing in Recovery Position (RP)

If the victim vomits in the recovery position, the vomit naturally drains from the mouth without obstructing the airway. This is the main advantage of this position.

Cardiac massage: when and why

Resuscitation is performed as soon as the victim is unconscious and not breathing normally , including if they have slow and noisy gasps, which are a sign of cardiac arrest and not breathing. There is no doubt to resolve by taking a pulse: in case of hesitation, it is considered that there is cardiac arrest and you begin . Compressing a person whose heart is still beating does not cause damage comparable to doing nothing for a person in arrest.

Cardiac massage

Resuscitation technique consisting of compressing the chest to restart blood circulation in a victim in cardiac arrest. Combined with artificial respiration (insufflations), it increases the chances of survival.

The technique: 30 compressions + 2 insufflations

Cardiac massage follows a strict rhythm: 30 chest compressions followed by 2 insufflations . This cycle is repeated until emergency services arrive or until the victim resumes normal breathing.

The 30 compressions

Victim on their back , on a firm surface Kneeling beside them, heel of one hand at the center of the chest , on the sternum Second hand on top, fingers interlaced , arms extended, shoulders directly above the hands Push down 5 to 6 cm , deep enough, without exceeding 6 cm Rhythm of 100 to 120 compressions per minute Release completely between each compression, without lifting your hands Minimize interruptions: each pause causes perfusion pressure to drop

The 2 insufflations

After the 30 compressions , tilt the victim's head back (chin upward) Pinch the victim's nose Place your mouth on theirs and breathe slowly and regularly Perform 2 insufflations (the chest should rise slightly) Start immediately again: 30 compressions + 2 insufflations

Cardiac massage cycle: 30 + 2

If you are not trained: compress only

This is the current recommendation for the untrained rescuer or one who does not wish to practice mouth-to-mouth: perform chest compressions only , continuously, at a rate of 100 to 120 per minute, without interruption until emergency services arrive. Resuscitation by compressions alone is significantly more effective than no resuscitation , and it avoids the hesitation that causes the first minutes, the most decisive ones, to be lost.

The automated external defibrillator (AED)

An element that is often forgotten: if an automated external defibrillator is available nearby, have it brought by another person while you continue compressions, do not leave the victim to fetch it if you are alone. The device guides vocally each gesture and only administers a shock if it detects it as necessary: it cannot be used incorrectly. Resume compressions immediately after the shock, without waiting.

Rhythm and duration

The numerical benchmarks

Element Benchmark Assessment Consciousness, then breathing for maximum 10 seconds , no pulse check Cycle 30 compressions + 2 insufflations Depth 5 to 6 cm Rhythm 100 to 120 compressions per minute Untrained Compressions only , continuously Duration Until emergency services arrive, normal breathing resumes, or exhaustion

To maintain the correct rhythm (100-120 compressions/minute), think of a catchy song like "Stayin' Alive" or "Another One Bites the Dust". The tempo of these songs matches the ideal rhythm.

Correct cardiac massage technique

Summary of key points

Assessment : consciousness then breathing ( 10 s maximum ). Do not check for a pulse , current recommendations have removed it for the non-professional rescuer Unconscious and breathing normally → Recovery position ; unconscious and not breathing normally → resuscitation Gasps that are slow and noisy are not breathing: resuscitate Recovery position : the body rolls as one unit, hand under the cheek, head tilted back, mouth toward the ground Compressions : center of the chest, 5 to 6 cm , 100 to 120/min , complete release Cycle 30 + 2 if you are trained; otherwise compressions only continuously Defibrillator : have it brought without leaving the victim; it guides and only shocks if necessary Helmet : do not remove it, except if the victim is not breathing or vomiting, consistent with the lesson "Protect, alert, assist" These actions do not replace first aid training : the lesson provides the benchmarks, not the practice

Congratulations!

First take the quiz of this lesson to validate your learning, then practice on the exam simulator and the MCQs . You have completed this entire course. Congratulations, time for practice!

BelgianLicenses

Theory without practice is forgotten: move on to the MCQs to permanently anchor your learning.