Which patient position is appropriate for a patient who is drooling during transport?

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Drooling during transport points to the risk of secretions or vomiting entering the airway, so the goal is to protect the airway and allow gravity to drain secretions away from the trachea. Placing the patient on the left side (left lateral recumbent) lets saliva and secretions drain downward rather than pooling at the back of the throat, reducing aspiration risk and helping you monitor and suction if needed. The other positions don’t offer the same protection: lying flat on the back can let secretions pool in the airway; lying face down makes airway access and drainage difficult; and standing is unsafe during transport and provides no airway protection.