General Rules for the first-aid treatment of an unconscious patient:

• Place the patient on his side with his head turned so that vomit can run out of his mouth.
• Make a quick survey to exclude arrested breathing or severe bleeding. These conditions must be given priority of treatment.
• Loosen all clothing and let him have plenty of fresh air.
• Remove spectacles or dentures. If his breathing is difficult, instruct an assistant to place his thumbs behind the angles of the jaw and draw the jaw forward; this will keep the tongue from falling back and blocking the air passage.
• Do not move him, unless he is lying in a place of danger, until you have completed first aid.
• Keep him warm with the aid of blankets, including one underneath him.
• Do not give him anything by mouth until he regains consciousness.
• Keep him under continuous observation. If he is restless he should be gently restrained.
• Remember that the unconscious patient does not feel pain.
• Remember that with a severe injury associated with much loss of blood unconsciousness may be due to shock.
• Remember that with a head injury unconsciousness may be due to concussion or compression of the brain.
  

Dislocation of the lower jaw may be caused by a blow on the point of the jaw when the mouth is open, or by yawning, laughing, or dental extractions. The history is usually clear, and there is obvious deformity of the face and inability to close the mouth, from which saliva dribbles away. The head of the bone can be felt on the surface of the cheek, slightly in front of its normal position. The chin is prominent and the lower teeth protrude in front of the upper. Dislocation is usually on one side only, though it may be on both.


TREATMENT:
1. Pad your thumbs well with strips of lint and insert them into the patient's mouth over his back teeth.
2. Exert steady pressure downwards to depress the angle of the jaw, at the same time raising the chin with your fingers outside the mouth. The head of the bone slips back into position with a snap, hence the need to protect your thumbs.
3. After reduction take care to prevent the recurrence. Do not give solid food for a week.

Recurrent dislocations are not uncommon. People to whom this has happened on a number of occasions often know how to put the bone back into place without assistance.