If spinal injury is suspected, which airway-clearing technique should be used?

• A. Head tilt chin lift
• B. Jaw thrust
• C. Chin lift
• D. Heimlich maneuver

Answer: (B)

When a spinal injury is suspected, the airway should be opened without moving the neck. The jaw thrust accomplishes this by lifting the mandible forward to push the tongue away from the airway while keeping the head and neck in a neutral position. This minimizes movement of the cervical spine and reduces the risk of further injury.

The other methods involve tilting or lifting the head, which can extend or twist the neck and potentially worsen a spinal injury. The Heimlich maneuver is for relieving a choking obstruction and is not used to clear the airway in trauma cases with suspected spine injury.