Oooh Zac, I wouldn't start that one again!  There was a bit of a debate on here a few days ago about the recovery position.



I am not sure the two are related though.  The recovery position is to help preserve the airway incase the casualty vomits or is bleeding and aspirates it, positional asphyxia happens when a person can't breath because they are being held in such a position that their ribs or diaphragm cannot move and so are prevented from breathing.  For example being forceabley bent double or sat on.

The point of my post was to direct  persons interested in furthering their knowledge to an article that is not just about the dangers of physical restraint but also explains in layman’s terms how respiration works and reasons why it doesn’t 

• “ASPHYXIATING” POSITIONS RANGE FROM

o a position that obstructs the mouth and nose (“upper airway”); or

o a position that causes hyper flexion (extreme bending-forward) of the neck,

so as to obstruct the trachea (the largest “lower airway” passage); or

o a position that causes restriction of the chest or diaphragm –

i.e.a position that impedes or prevents the MECHANICAL means of breathing;

o OR a combination of any of the above-described asphyxiating positions.

e.g. An unconscious obese drunk lying face down(prone)?  

My understanding of the recovery position is ,not only protects the airway but allows the chest and diaphragm to work efficiently.