Which technique should be used to open the airway if there is no suspected neck injury?

• A. Jaw thrust
• B. Head tilt-chin lift
• C. Mouth-to-mouth
• D. Chest compressions

Answer: (B)

Opening the airway when there’s no suspected neck injury is done with the head tilt-chin lift. Tilting the head back slightly and lifting the chin moves the tongue away from the back of the throat and aligns the passages, making it easier to breathe or to give rescue breaths. This method is fast and effective for unobstructed spines, which is why it’s preferred here.

The jaw-thrust is reserved for when a neck injury might be present because it moves the neck less but doesn’t open the airway as reliably in an unconscious person without injury. Mouth-to-mouth focuses on delivering breaths and isn’t primarily about opening the airway, and chest compressions don’t help open the airway at all. In summary, the head tilt-chin lift is the best way to open the airway when no neck injury is suspected.