Stable lateral position

When a person becomes unconscious, his entire musculature relaxes. This also applies to the muscles of the tongue. If an unconscious person is lying on his back, the base of the tongue falls into the pharynx and can thus prevent breathing.

In addition, emergency patients can vomit for various reasons and this can also enter the airways and make breathing impossible. Both problems can be prevented with a simple first aid technique. First the helper stretches the head so that air passes the base of the tongue again and checks whether the patient is breathing.

If breathing is normal, the unconscious person is placed in the lateral position. For this purpose, the arm facing the helper is placed at a right angle upwards. The other arm is placed over the body of the person concerned so that the hand is on the shoulder.

The arm must be held firmly, otherwise the missing muscle tension will cause it to fall back. The leg facing away from the helper is bent and also held. Now the helper can hold the affected person by the shoulder and knee and turn towards him or her.

The hand under the head of the patient is aligned so that it does not press on the windpipe. The head must be overstretched again and the mouth is opened. In this position the patient can breathe freely and vomit can drain away. Now the helper has time to make an emergency call and search the affected person for other injuries.

First aid course

The above mentioned first aid measures can somehow be put into words, but it is difficult to really implement them without practice. For this purpose all aid organizations and also many hospitals and companies offer regular courses. A first aid course comprises nine teaching units and can therefore be completed in a single day.

In Germany, this course is only compulsory for driver’s license applicants and certain professional groups, but can be attended by anyone interested. In the course, participants learn how to secure accident sites, how to make an emergency call and some first aid techniques. It will be discussed when which help is needed.Each participant practices practically how a lateral position works, how cardiopulmonary resuscitation works and how to apply a pressure bandage.

In addition to the practical training units, an overview of common clinical pictures such as heart attack and stroke is given. The First Aid Association recommends attending a course every two years. This keeps helpers fit for emergencies and also gives them a direct insight into new developments in first aid. In addition, courses can be attended specifically for first aid for children, which can be particularly interesting for young parents and educators.