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9. If the person starts breathing again, place them in the recovery position. To do this, start with the person lying on their back. Then, pull the arm closest to you so that it makes a right angle to their body with palm up. Fold their other arm and place it under their cheek closest to you. You'll have to hold it there. With your free hand, bend the person's knee that's farthest from you to a right angle. Carefully roll the person onto their side closer to you by pulling the bent knee toward you. Their bent arm should be supporting the head, and their extended arm will stop you from rolling them too far. Make sure their bent leg is at a right angle. Keep checking for breathing until help arrives.
Review Date 2/10/2026
Updated by: Jesse Borke, MD, CPE, FAAEM, FACEP, Attending Physician at Kaiser Permanente, Orange County, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
