If a victim is vomiting, how should you position them?

Positioning a victim who is vomiting on their side is crucial for several reasons. This lateral position helps to clear the airway and prevents the inhalation of vomit, which is essential to maintain an open airway and reduce the risk of choking. When a person is positioned on their side, it allows any vomit to drain out of the mouth rather than obstructing the throat or entering the lungs, thus minimizing the risk of aspiration pneumonia or other respiratory complications.

The other options do not provide adequate safety for someone who is vomiting. Lying on the back can increase the chance of choking, as vomit could flow back into the throat. Sitting upright may help in some cases but does not adequately manage the risk of vomit flowing into the airway. Face down is also dangerous because it poses a risk of suffocation and would likely not relieve the gastrointestinal discomfort that causes vomiting. The side-lying position is, therefore, the most effective and safest method to support a vomiting victim.