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Year 9

Basic first aid: unconsciousness

I can describe how to help an unconscious casualty including the recovery position, CPR and AED use.

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Share activities with pupils
New
New
Year 9

Basic first aid: unconsciousness

I can describe how to help an unconscious casualty including the recovery position, CPR and AED use.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Assessing an unconscious casualty involves checking for danger, airways, breathing and circulation (ABC).
  2. The recovery position helps maintain an open airway for an unconscious casualty.
  3. CPR involves chest compressions and rescue breaths to maintain circulation and breathing.
  4. Defibrillators (AEDs) can restore normal heart rhythm in cases of cardiac arrest.

Keywords

  • Cardiac arrest - a medical condition where the heart stops beating unexpectedly, requiring immediate medical attention

  • Recovery position - a safe way to lay an unconscious person on their side to keep their airway open

  • Casualty - a person who is in need of medical attention due to injury or illness

  • CPR - stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation; a life-saving technique used when someone's breathing or heartbeat has stopped, usually combining chest compressions with artificial ventilation

  • AED - an Automated External Defibrillator is a portable device that checks heart rhythm and can send an electric shock to the heart to restore a normal rhythm

Common misconception

The recovery position is used for all unresponsive casualties.

The recovery position is not suitable for casualties who are gasping for breath or have irregular breathing, which may indicate cardiac arrest.


To help you plan your year 9 rshe (pshe) lesson on: Basic first aid: unconsciousness, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Use the AED websites to demonstrate to pupils how to locate their closest ones and also to suggest doing this when they go to other areas of the UK.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What are the first steps you should take when someone shows signs of anaphylactic shock?
give them a glass of water
help them lie down
Correct answer: call the emergency services
wait to see if symptoms improve on their own
Correct answer: use an adrenaline auto-injector
Q2.
Which of these does not cause a scald?
hot steam
boiling water
Correct answer: radiator
Correct answer: open flame
hot drinks
Q3.
You should always seek medical attention for a burn if it is ...
smaller than a handprint
Correct answer: caused by a chemical or electrics
Correct answer: causing signs of shock
Correct answer: deep, or the skin is white
small and shallow
Q4.
Which of the following should you never put on a burn?
cool or lukewarm water
Correct answer: ice
Correct answer: grease, such as butter
one layer of clingfilm
Q5.
Match the words to the definitions.
Correct Answer:immobilise,to restrict movement to prevent further injury

to restrict movement to prevent further injury

Correct Answer:sprain,an injury where ligaments around a joint get overstretched or torn

an injury where ligaments around a joint get overstretched or torn

Correct Answer:choking,a blockage of the airway that prevents normal breathing

a blockage of the airway that prevents normal breathing

Correct Answer:first aid,immediate assistance given to someone who is injured or ill

immediate assistance given to someone who is injured or ill

Correct Answer:heat imbalance,a condition where the body cannot regulate its temperature properly

a condition where the body cannot regulate its temperature properly

Correct Answer:hygiene,practices to maintain health and prevent disease

practices to maintain health and prevent disease

Q6.
Order the steps to manage a cut that is bleeding.
1 - stem the bleeding to ensure it stops
2 - wash hands or put on sterile gloves
3 - clean the wound
4 - apply a sterile dressing
5 - change dressing regularly
6 - seek medical help if it does not start to heal

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the words to the correct definitions.
Correct Answer:recovery position,a way to lay an unconscious person on their side to open their airway

a way to lay an unconscious person on their side to open their airway

Correct Answer:casualty,a person who is in need of medical attention due to injury or illness

a person who is in need of medical attention due to injury or illness

Correct Answer:cardiac arrest,a medical condition where the heart stops beating unexpectedly

a medical condition where the heart stops beating unexpectedly

Correct Answer:unconscious,when someone is not awake and is not responding to their environment

when someone is not awake and is not responding to their environment

Q2.
Put these first aid steps when assessing a casualty into the correct order.
1 - assess for danger
2 - check the airways
3 - check the breathing
4 - check the circulation
Q3.
What is agonal breathing?
calm, regular breathing during sleep
rapid breathing after exercise
deep, steady breaths
wheezing caused by asthma
Correct answer: abnormal, gasping breaths seen in cardiac arrest
Q4.
The recovery position should be used for ...
all unconscious casualties
casualties who are conscious
Correct answer: casualties who are unconscious but breathing
casualties who are unconscious and not breathing
casualties who are conscious but bleeding
Q5.
Order the steps for using an AED.
1 - turn the AED on
2 - remove all clothing from patient's chest including anything metal
3 - correctly place the pads on the casualty’s bare chest
4 - follow the AED advice
5 - shout "stand clear" and administer shock
6 - continue rescue breaths and CPR
Q6.
What does AED stand for?
Automated Energy Device
Advanced Emergency Detector
Automatic Electric Defibrillator
Correct answer: Automated External Defibrillator