Unresponsive & Breathing Person

1. Give care consistent with condition found and level of training.
2. Place the person in the recovery position.
   1. If head, neck or back injury suspected, leave in position found, unless you must move for safety, to perform CPR or to control bleeding.
3. Continue checking them as appropriate to determine if additional care is needed.
4. Keep them from getting cold or overheated.
   1. If cold, cover them with a blanket.
   2. If hot, remove a layer of clothing.
5. Reassure them you will help and that EMS has been called (if appropriate).
6. Give care for shock, if necessary.
7. Watch for changes in the person’s condition, including breathing and responsiveness, and give care as appropriate and trained.

“The recovery position is something that anyone can use and it's a position that you can place a person or a patient in that helps you control their airway. When there's risk of vomit or blood, any kind of fluid in the airway that could block it and become a severely life-threatening emergency, we place them on their side. So ideally, [it would be on] their left side. You place one arm up [so they can] lay their head on it to support them. Make sure that they're facing out and they have space to let the vomit come out. You're going to take your other hand and place it here against their face, like they're sleeping on a pillow. And then you can bend one or both knees up to stabilize them. And this allows you to help monitor their airway. It can help you to make sure that when EMS gets there, they can do a patient assessment the way that they want to and reduces the risk of aspiration.”
~ Hannaford Bush, Fellow, Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council

How long should it take me to check a person?

You should check for responsiveness for no more than 10 seconds.

If someone is unresponsive but breathing, should I try to talk with the person?

Yes, talk to the person and reassure them. Even though they might not talk to you, they may still be able to hear what is going on.

If a person is unresponsive and can’t give consent, can I still give care?

Yes. In these cases, consent is implied under the law (implied consent). Basically, the law assumes the person would give consent if they could. Implied consent also applies when a minor needs emergency medical assistance and the minor’s parent or guardian is not present.

If a person is face-down, can I roll them face-up to see if they have an injury?

If no head, neck or back injuries are suspected, you may roll the face-down and unresponsive person onto their back carefully to avoid any injury. If a head, neck or back injury is possible, keep the person in the face-down position unless you need to perform CPR.

How do I check a person who is responsive?

Interview the person (or bystanders, if necessary), ask questions about signs and symptoms, allergies, and medications and medical conditions (SAM).

Do a focused check based on what the person told you, how the person is acting and what you see.

Note: Do not ask the person to move if you suspect a head, neck or back injury. Do not ask the person to move any area of the body that causes discomfort or pain.

After checking the person, call 9-1-1, if needed, get equipment and give care based on the condition found according to your level of training.