Recovery Position Partner Challenge
In pairs on mats, students learn to roll an unconscious person who is breathing into the recovery position and practice until they can do it correctly and quickly. Students practice first aid, body control when moving someone and cooperation.
How to play
- Spend 4 minutes demonstrating the steps: check for breathing, place the near arm at a right angle, put the far hand under the cheek, bend the far knee, roll the person toward you by the knee and tilt the head back to open the airway.
- Pair students on mats. One plays the victim lying on their back, relaxed and not helping; the other is the rescuer.
- The rescuer practices slowly, saying each step out loud. Then partners switch (about 6 minutes in total).
- Combine two pairs: one pair performs while the other checks with a 6-step checklist. Any missed step is marked and corrected.
- Timed challenge: using the teacher's stopwatch, each rescuer places their partner in the recovery position as fast as possible without skipping steps. An incorrect position does not count.
- Give each student 3 tries and aim for under 30 seconds with perfect technique. Finish by reciting the steps together out loud.
Rules
- Roll gently, with no yanking on the arm or neck.
- The victim does not help or roll on their own, but speaks up if something is uncomfortable.
- Speed only counts if every step is done correctly.
- Always work on a mat with clear space around you.
Variations
Easier
Practice without the clock and with a step poster next to the mat.
Standard
Perform the full recovery position against the clock, checked by another pair.
Harder
Start with the full scenario: check for response, call 911, check breathing and roll into the recovery position.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the student talks a partner through the movements.
- Autism or discomfort with touch: practice first on a manikin or a rolled-up mat before working with a person.
- Big size differences between partners: pair students of similar build.
Learning goals
- Place a person in the recovery position following the correct steps.
- Recognize when to use the recovery position.
- Move another person carefully and with body control.
Equipment for a class of 25
- mats: 13
- stopwatch: 1
Teacher tip
Stress that this position is for someone who is unconscious but breathing; if they are not breathing, start CPR. Ask for consent before contact and let students choose partners they trust.
PatioLab has "Recovery Position Partner Challenge" and 1299 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
More activities like this
More main activities for Middle School
3v3 Mini-Volleyball with Set Passes
Small-sided 3v3 mini-volleyball on small courts, with a bonus for building the play with a set.
4v3 Soccer Counterattack Game
Four attackers try to score on a goal guarded by three defenders, who counterattack toward two small cone goals if they win the ball.
4x50 Relay: Blind Handoff in the Exchange Zone
Teams of four learn to pass the baton without looking inside an exchange zone marked with cones, with the receiver taking off at speed so no time is lost.
Accuracy Circuit with Cloth Targets
Accuracy stations with cloth targets on the floor and on the wall, where students toss bean bags and score points by ring.
Acrosport Flow: Linked Stunt Transitions
Groups of four link three simple acrosport stunts, moving from one to the next without fully coming down, with safe builds and dismounts.
Acrosport in Groups of 4
Partner and group stunts (acrosport) in groups of 4: building simple human pyramids and balances with bases, flyers and spotters while following safety rules.