Roadside First Aid
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First Aid

 

THE RECOVERY POSITION
20% of all people who die as a result of a road traffic accident, do so because their Airway becomes obstructed either by a build up of fluid or vomit or by the tongue falling to the back of the Airway.
Introduction
Basic Casualty Assessment
Accident Scene Management
An unconscious patient who IS NOT a TRAUMA CASUALTY (i.e. has not been subjected to a severe force such as being hit by a car or falling from a height, and unlucky to have sustained injury to the head / neck or spine), should be placed in the Recovery position. This causes the tongue to fall forward, allows any fluid to drain out of the mouth and prevents the casualty from rolling onto their back. Some casualties will already be laying on their sides. In these cases you just need to modify their position to ensure the Airway is fully protected.

Positioning yourself, opening the Airway

Kneel beside the patient on the side to which you want to turn them on to. If they are wearing glasses, carefully remove them putting them in a safe place. Straighten the casualty's legs and open the Airway by tilting their head backwards slightly and lifting the chin (see page 3).

Positioning the casualty ready for the turn

Place the arm nearest to you, out at right angles to the casualty's body and bend the elbow so the upper arm is parallel to the head, palm upwards. Do not try to force the arm down or in to a position it does not want to go in to, just place it as above, as best you can. Bring the arm furthest away from you, across the chest and place it palm up, against the cheek nearest you. Hold the casualty's hand there with your left hand, palm to palm, otherwise it will drop down again.

With your left hand, grip the leg furthest away from you and placing your hand under the casualty's knee, bring the knee up so that the casualty's foot is resting on the floor, tucked in next to their other knee.

Turning the casualty, final positioning.

Keeping your left hand holding the casualties hand palm to palm, against their cheek, place your right hand on the knee of the raised leg. Move back slightly from the casualty and roll them towards you and on to their side, by pulling on the knee.

Once the casualty is over, gently lay their head on the floor. Tilt the head back (moving the casualty's hand under the check as required),ensuring the Airway stays open and is not obstructed by their own body. Move the upper leg so that the hip and knee are bent out at right angles to the body. This prevents the casualty from rolling backwards.
First Aid Kits For Motorcyclists
 

 

Recheck breathing, pulse and level of responsiveness, every couple of minutes. Continue to look for possible signs of bleeding which may have been hidden or only now becoming obvious.

Continue to check for and treat shock.