If a stroke patient is unconscious, which position should they be placed in?

• A. Recovery position
• B. Supine with head raised
• C. Prone
• D. Left lateral position

Answer: (A)

Protecting the airway and preventing aspiration is the priority when a stroke patient is unconscious. The recovery position achieves this by placing the person on their side with the head tilted slightly back and the mouth angled downward, so saliva or vomit can drain away from the airway. This posture helps keep the airway open and reduces the risk of choking, while also allowing easier observation of breathing.

Other postures are less safe for an unconscious patient. Lying flat can allow the tongue to fall back and obstruct the airway, and simply raising the head doesn’t reliably prevent aspiration. Turning onto the prone position makes it harder to breathe and access the airway. A general left-side position might still fail to provide the same airway protection and drainage as the proper recovery position, which is why the recovery position is preferred.