Unresponsive and breathing
How to help someone who is unresponsive and breathing. This means they don’t answer or move if you call their name or shake their shoulders, and they are breathing.
Learning objectives
- Learn first aid skills
- Feel confident to help someone who needs first aid
- Feel able to help someone who is in need of first aid

Do you have a learner ID?
Login to save and track your results
Click through the slides below to watch the film
Click on the link below to read the video transcript.
Giving first aid during the coronavirus pandemic
Please always consider your own personal safety first when delivering first aid
First aid for someone who is unresponsive and breathing

Step 1
Someone who is unresponsive won’t answer or move if you call their name or shake their shoulders. Check if they are breathing. Is their chest moving? If the answer is yes, they are breathing.
Due to the risks of Covid-19, do not listen or feel for breathing by placing your ear and cheek close to the patient’s mouth.

Step 2
If they are breathing, roll them onto their side and tilt their head back.

Step 3
Tell an adult and call 999.
Think you know how to help someone who is unresponsive and breathing?
Learn
Use these resources to help children learn how to help someone who is unresponsive and not breathing.
0.4mb
Unresponsive and breathing - learn activity
1.7mb
Unresponsive and breathing – learn PowerPoint
Download Unresponsive and breathing – learn PowerPoint (PPTX)
0.3mb
Unresponsive and breathing - how to help card
Download Unresponsive and breathing - how to help card (PDF)
Practise
Use these resources to help children practice how to help someone who is unresponsive and not breathing.
0.4mb
First aid skill – practise activity ideas
0.5mb
Unresponsive and breathing – practise role-play card
Download Unresponsive and breathing – practise role-play card (DOCX)
Other sections that might interest you

Unresponsive and not breathing
Learn how to help someone who is unresponsive and not breathing.

Kindness and coping
Learn about kindness and practise how to cope and keep calm.

Safety
Learn and practise how to keep safe when helping others.

Share
Share what you’ve learned with others.
Guidance and support for teachers and educators
This section includes curriculum links, a teacher and educator guide and everything you need to get started.