If none is breathing, which airway technique is recommended?

• A. Chin Tilt or Jaw Thrust
• B. Head Tilt-Chin Lift
• C. Mouth-to-Mouth
• D. Abdominal Thrust

Answer: (A)

Opening the airway is the first priority when someone isn’t breathing. In a wilderness or field setting, you want a maneuver that both opens the airway and minimizes neck movement if there might be spinal injury. The option that covers both situations is chin tilt or jaw thrust. A chin tilt helps lift the tongue away from the back of the throat to clear the airway, while a jaw thrust moves the jaw forward to keep the airway open without extending the neck. If spinal injury is a concern, use the jaw thrust alone to avoid neck movement; if no injury is suspected, a chin tilt can provide a more open airway.

Mouth-to-mouth is a ventilation step performed after the airway is open, not the maneuver to open the airway itself. Abdominal thrust is for choking, not for opening the airway. Head tilt-chin lift can open the airway but is avoided if there might be cervical spine injury.