How to help an unconscious person

Photo: Samuli Raappana / Suomen Punainen Risti

Place the unconscious person in the recovery position to ensure continuous
breathing.

  1. When you see a collapsed person, find out does he/she respond to talking or shaking of the shoulders.

  2. If the person does not wake up, shout for help or dial yourself 112 for the emergency service and put your phone on speaker. Follow the instructions given.

  3. Check if the patient is breathing normally (with the person lying on their back). Open the airways by lifting the chin upwards and tilting the head back. Check if the person's chest is rising. Feel and listen the air stream from the mouth and the nose.

  4. If the unconscious person is breathing normally, place the person in the recovery position to ensure continuous breathing. 

YouTube embed preview image
How to help an unconscious person. How to place the unconscious person in the recovery position. Video: Samuli Raappana / Finnish Red Cross

Call the general emergency number 112 in an emergency.

Follow these instructions when making the emergency call

First aid instructions: removing a foreign object