Unconscious but breathing Mau moe ana engari e hā tonu ana
If someone does not respond to noise or touch, it is likely they are unconscious. Find out what to do if someone is unconscious but still breathing.
Helping someone who is unconscious but breathing
To help an unconscious person who is breathing, follow the DRAB steps — Danger, Response, Airway and Breathing.
Danger
Check for any danger to you and the unconscious person. Look around for dangers like fire, electricity and traffic.
If it is safe, go to the next step. If not, make it safe before going any further.
Danger
Check for any danger to you and the unconscious person. Look around for dangers like fire, electricity and traffic.
If it is safe, go to the next step. If not, make it safe before going any further.
Response
Is the person responsive? Loudly ask questions like:
- 'Can you hear me?'
- 'Can you open your eyes?'
Watch to see if there is any response — movement or a noise. If not, then grasp their shoulders and squeeze firmly. If there is still no response or just a groan, treat the person as unconscious.
Response
Is the person responsive? Loudly ask questions like:
- 'Can you hear me?'
- 'Can you open your eyes?'
Watch to see if there is any response — movement or a noise. If not, then grasp their shoulders and squeeze firmly. If there is still no response or just a groan, treat the person as unconscious.
Airway
Check they can breathe. If you can see that something is blocking their airway and you can safely remove it, do so using your thumb and forefinger.
If something is stuck, do not touch it as you may force it further into their airway. If it is stopping them breathing, follow the advice for choking.
Airway
Check they can breathe. If you can see that something is blocking their airway and you can safely remove it, do so using your thumb and forefinger.
If something is stuck, do not touch it as you may force it further into their airway. If it is stopping them breathing, follow the advice for choking.
Breathing
Tilt the person's head back to open their airway. Do this by placing:
- your fingertips under their chin to lift
- one hand on their forehead to tilt back slightly.
Do not do this if you think they may have a back or neck injury.
Now check if they are breathing by:
- looking for their chest rising and falling
- feeling for their breath on your cheek
- listening for their breathing.
If they are breathing, follow these steps:
- stay calm
- loosen any restrictive clothing
- if there are no signs of life-threatening injuries, place the person in the recovery position — follow the steps below
- for a baby, cradle them in your arms with their head tilted downwards and slightly to the side
- keep them warm
- stay with them until medical help arrives.
Breathing
Tilt the person's head back to open their airway. Do this by placing:
- your fingertips under their chin to lift
- one hand on their forehead to tilt back slightly.
Do not do this if you think they may have a back or neck injury.
Now check if they are breathing by:
- looking for their chest rising and falling
- feeling for their breath on your cheek
- listening for their breathing.
If they are breathing, follow these steps:
- stay calm
- loosen any restrictive clothing
- if there are no signs of life-threatening injuries, place the person in the recovery position — follow the steps below
- for a baby, cradle them in your arms with their head tilted downwards and slightly to the side
- keep them warm
- stay with them until medical help arrives.
How to put someone in the recovery position
- Kneel beside the person. Take the arm closest to you and put it at a right angle to their body
- Take the other arm and bring it across their body so the back of their hand is resting under their chin
- Bend the knee furthest from you until their foot is flat on the floor.
- Pull on the bent knee to roll the person towards you. Slightly tilt the persons head back to make sure they can continue breathing.
If they may have a back or neck injury
- Keep their neck as still as possible. Avoid bending or twisting it. Do not tilt their neck.
- As long as they are breathing, leave the person in the position you found them.
- If their breathing is irregular or does not sound normal, place your hands on either side of their face with your fingertips on their jaw and gently lift their jaw to open their airway.
- If the person throws up (vomits) or is bleeding out of their mouth, support their neck and roll their entire body onto their side, making sure you keep their spine in a straight line.
Unconscious and not breathing
Start CPR if the person:
- is not breathing
- stops breathing
- only occasionally gasps for air.
If a pēpi is not breathing, follow the CPR advice on the KidsHealth website.
CPR for babies and young children — KidsHealthexternal link
If you think they may have a back or neck injury and they are not breathing, start CPR, but do not tilt their head back.