To open an unresponsive victim's airway when a spinal injury is not suspected, what is the correct technique?

• A. Tilt the head back and lift the chin
• B. Lift the chin only
• C. Tilt the head forward and chin lift
• D. Jaw thrust

Answer: (A)

Opening an unresponsive person's airway when you don’t suspect a spinal injury relies on a head tilt-back with a chin-lift. Tilting the head slightly extends the neck so the airway is no longer kinked by the tongue. Lifting the chin helps move the floor of the mouth forward, further clearing the airway and allowing air to pass more easily. This combination aligns the airway and reduces obstruction, making rescue breaths possible.

Lifting the chin alone often doesn’t move the tongue enough to clear the airway. Tilting the head forward and chin lifting would worsen the airway by misaligning it. The jaw thrust is used when a spinal injury is suspected because it opens the airway without extending the neck, but that isn’t needed here. So, the best technique is tilting the head back and lifting the chin.