Stable lateral position for children/babies

There should be no shyness if the unconscious person is suddenly a child or even a baby. In fact, any position is better than the supine position, because in this position the tongue can fall far back and the person affected can choke on the tongue or stomach contents. Babies should be placed in the prone position instead of the stable lateral position.

In this position the baby can breathe freely and vomit can drain away. The danger of suffocation is eliminated. The baby should be placed on a warm and soft surface, such as a pillow. The baby’s head should be turned to the side and the head tilted backwards. As with the adult, the mouth should be opened.

Stable lateral position for pregnant women

In general, pregnant women are also brought into the stable lateral position when they become unconscious.In pregnant women, however, care should be taken to ensure that the face faces the left side, i.e. that the woman is placed in a left-side position, in order to relieve the inferior vena cava (inferior vena cava). This is because the vena cava compression syndrome often occurs in a receding position, resulting in a drop in blood pressure and unconsciousness due to the constriction of the inferior vena cava. As a result, the body cannot pump enough blood back to the heart and the heart has too little blood available to supply the body and brain with blood.

The child is also not supplied with sufficient oxygen. If a pregnant woman is found unconscious, especially in the last trimester, the woman should always be placed in the stable lateral position to the left to ensure that the vena cava is not compressed. If a compression syndrome was the cause of unconsciousness, the woman will regain consciousness in the stable lateral position to the left. If the pregnant woman should be unconscious for some reason, she is protected from compression syndrome in this position.