Which airway-management technique must be used when spinal injury is suspected?

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

Answer: (B)

When spinal injury is suspected, the priority is to open the airway without moving the neck. The jaw thrust maneuver achieves this by lifting the lower jaw forward, which pushes the tongue away from the back of the throat and opens the airway without tilting or bending the head or neck. This helps keep the cervical spine stable while you establish ventilation or breathing support.

Tilting the head back (head-tilt chin-lift) or combining mouth-to-mouth with head-tilt would flex or extend the neck, increasing the risk of worsening a spinal injury. Chest compressions are part of CPR and not an airway-opening technique, though they’re important if the person isn’t breathing and needs resuscitation.