Stable side position

definition

The stable side position is a standard position in which a person who is breathing independently but who is clouded or unconscious should be used to avoid breathing in foreign bodies (aspiration) to prevent.Particularly unconscious people are at risk of aspiration because the body's own protective reflexes, such as the cough reflex, fail. The stable side position is supposed to ensure that the airways remain free and vomit, blood or saliva can run out of the mouth.

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When should a person lie on their side?

There are numerous different types of storage for different clinical pictures. The stable side position is suitable for all unconscious or unconscious patients who are still breathe independently are not intubated. Individuals should also be placed in this position if they are expected to vomit must or have vomited and are not fully conscious. In the stable side position, vomit can flow out, because the backward tilt of the head and the open mouth means that the vomit does not flow back into the stomach or the lungs but out.

manual

It is not difficult to get a person into a stable lateral position and one should not be afraid to help the person concerned. If you find someone unconscious, you have to Check breathingThis is achieved by paying attention to whether the chest is still moving in synchronism with the breath. If this observation is difficult due to clothing or the location, you can also put your hand in front of your nose and check whether you can feel your breath. It must also be checked whether the heart is still beating. This can be determined by feeling the pulse either on the wrist or the main artery in the neck.

If the person still breathing and a Pulse palpable the person can be brought into the stable side position. To do this, the helper kneels next to the person affected and extends the legs of the unconscious person. Then the helper takes the arm of the unconscious person who is on his side and puts it up at an angle so that the palm is facing up. Then the other arm is gripped 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 victim's hand on the cheek. With the other hand that is still free, the leg is placed on the side remote from the assistant and bent at the hollow of the knee. From this position, the person affected is pulled to the helper's side.

Furthermore, the person concerned must now be aligned. It is important that the leg on top is aligned so that it is at right angles to the hip. This leg stabilizes the position. The most important thing is the following: the head of the person concerned must be slightly overstretched backwards so that the airways are free.

Then the Unconscious person's mouth opened. One should also look into the mouth and check whether foreign body or Leftover food are in it that could be swallowed. If so, they should removedto prevent potential suffocation. The person's hand on the cheek should be aligned so that the airways remain free.

Only then will the Emergency call 112 discontinued. To protect the affected person from getting cold, you can do them cover up. The rescue blankets should be placed so that the silver side faces the affected person. During the time until the rescue service arrives, the breathing and consciousness of the person concerned should be checked regularly and given calming effects.

Stable side position for children / babies

Do not be shy if the unconscious person suddenly has a child or even one infant is. Because actually every position is better than the supine position, because in this position the tongue can fall far back and the person affected suffocates on the tongue or stomach contents. Babies should be in the Prone position bring instead of the stable side position. In this position, the child can continue to breathe freely and vomit can drain away. The danger of suffocation is gone. The baby should have its stomach on one warm and soft pad be placed, a pillow for example. The child's head should be turned to one side and the head should be tilted back. As with the adult, the mouth should be opened.

Stable lateral position for pregnant women

Generally also pregnant women put on their side when they pass out. However, in pregnant women, care should be taken that the Face to the left shows the woman in Left lateral position is brought to relieve the inferior vena cava (lower vena cava). Often that happens Vena cava compression syndrome in reserve, causing a drop in blood pressure and loss of consciousness due to the entrapment of the inferior vena cava (inferior vena cava). As a result, the body cannot deliver enough blood back to the heart, the heart has too little blood available to supply the body and the brain with blood. The child is also not adequately supplied with oxygen. If a pregnant woman is found passed out, especially in the last trimester, the woman should always be brought into the stable lateral position to the left to ensure that the vena cava is not compressed. If a compression syndrome was decisive for the unconsciousness, the woman will regain consciousness in the stable lateral position in the left lateral position. If the pregnant woman should be unconscious for any reason, she is protected from compression syndrome in this position.

Old vs. new version

Since 2006 becomes a new version taught the lateral position, which was thought to be easier to remember. The old versions are in no way wrong or unsuitable. The new variant of the stable side position is only easier to learn and with one less effort connected. Another advantage of this is that the unconscious person could quickly be turned on their back in the event that the circulation fails and cardiopulmonary resuscitation is necessary. The older version of the stable side position is in no way disadvantaged. If you are more confident in the old version than the new one, you should use the old one.