First Aid Acronyms Explained – SAP
S – Safe
A – Airway
P – Position
An acronym is a word or name formed as an abbreviation, created from the initial letters of a phrase or a word. The first aid world uses many acronyms to help us remember different treatments. In this series we have explained the meanings of the most common first aid acronyms to help you avoid confusion!
The first aid acronym S.A.P. is often used interchangeably with the term Recovery Position. It describes the position a casualty should be left in if they are unconscious but breathing effectively.
There are a number of transferable phrases used for the Recovery Position and a series of variations on a lateral recumbent or three-quarters prone position of the body.
However, the name is not too important, and at the First Aid Training Co-operative, we like to stick to Recovery Position as it is the best known name. We use the acronym S.O.D.A as a way of ensuring that a casualty is in an effective Recovery Position, and the principles of a Recovery Position are used in any variation.
S – Safe
O – Open
D – Draining
A – Airway
A good recovery position is often dictated by the situation that the casualty is in, and indeed it may be impossible or dangerous to roll the casualty into a ‘text book’ recovery position as shown in the video below.
In this case, ensuring that the casualty is in a position that achieves a S.O.D.A, may be the best that we can do. Most importantly it at least ensures that their airway is safe while help arrives.
Watch our video to see how to put someone in the safe airway, or recovery posiiton.
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