Definition
The stable lateral position is a standard position in which an independently breathing but unconscious or unconscious person should be used to prevent the inhalation of foreign bodies (aspiration). Unconscious persons are particularly at risk of aspiration because the body’s own protective reflexes, such as the cough reflex, fail. The stable lateral position should therefore ensure that the airways remain clear and that vomit, blood or saliva can flow out of the mouth.
When should a person be in the stable lateral position?
There are many different types of storage for different clinical pictures. The stable lateral position is suitable for all unconscious or unconscious patients who can still breathe independently, i.e. who are not intubated. Persons should also be placed in this position if they are likely to vomit or have already vomited and are not fully conscious. In the stable lateral position, vomit can flow off, because the backward inclination of the head and the open mouth means that the vomit does not flow back into the stomach or lungs but out.
Instructions
It is not difficult to bring a person into a stable lateral position and no shyness should be felt to help the person concerned. If you find a person unconscious, you have to check their breathing, this can be done by making sure that their chest is still moving in sync with their breathing. If this observation is difficult due to clothing or the situation in which the person is found, you can also put your hand in front of your nose and check whether you can feel the breath.
Furthermore, it must be checked whether the heart is still beating. This can be determined by palpating the pulse either on the wrist or on the aorta in the throat. If the person is still breathing and a pulse is palpable, the person can be put in a stable lateral position.
To do this, the caregiver kneels at the side of the person and stretches the legs of the unconscious person. Then the helper takes the arm of the unconscious person who is on his side and puts it angled upwards so that the palm of the hand is facing upwards. Then the other arm is grasped by the wrist and crossed in front of the chest, the back of the hand is placed on the cheek.
With one hand the helper now holds the hand of the person concerned against the cheek. With the other hand still free, the leg on the side away from the helper is adjusted and bent in the hollow of the knee. From this position the patient is pulled to the side of the helper.
Furthermore, the affected person must now be aligned. It is important that the upper leg is aligned so that it is at right angles to the hip. This leg stabilizes the position.
The most important thing now is the following: the head of the affected person must be slightly overstretched backwards so that the airways are clear. Then the mouth of the unconscious person is opened. One should also look into the mouth and check whether there are any foreign bodies or food remains in it that could be swallowed.
If there are, they should be removed to prevent potential suffocation. The affected person’s hand resting on the cheek should be aligned so that the airways remain clear. Only then is the emergency call to 112 made.
In order to protect the affected person from cooling down, he or she can be covered. The rescue blankets should be laid so that the silver side is facing the person affected. In the time until the rescue service arrives, the breathing and consciousness of the affected person should be checked regularly and reassurance should be given.
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