Wiktionary
n. The position, which helpers will typically put an unconscious person into, of lying on the floor three-quarters prone, on one's side; this position maximises the likelihood of the person's airway remaining open.
Wikipedia
The recovery position refers to one of a series of variations on a lateral recumbent or three-quarters prone position of the body, in to which an unconscious but breathing casualty can be placed as part of first aid treatment.
An unconscious person, a person who is assessed on the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) at eight or below, in a supine position (on the back) may not be able to maintain an open airway as a conscious person would. This can lead to an obstruction of the airway, restricting the flow of air and preventing gaseous exchange, which then causes hypoxia, which is life-threatening. Thousands of fatalities occur every year in casualties where the cause of unconsciousness was not fatal, but where airway obstruction caused the patient to suffocate. The cause of unconsciousness can be any reason from trauma to intoxication from alcohol.
It is not necessarily used by health care professionals, as they may have access to more advanced airway management techniques, such as intubation.
Usage examples of "recovery position".
How he sapped me, then gently laid me out on the floor, grunting with effort as he rolled me into the recovery position so I wouldn’.
Beth had been placed in the recovery position by the boyfriend, so she wasn't moving about, but when she was put on the stretcher she muttered something about, ".
She turned Sally over once more to the recovery position, unzipped Sally's trousers and with some difficulty wrestled them off her, followed by her panties.