When opening the airway with suspected cervical spine injury, which two actions are required?

When opening the airway with suspected cervical spine injury, which two actions are required?

• A. Two rescuers provide manual cervical spinal stabilization and demonstrate manual jaw-thrust opening of the airway
• B. Tilt head back and jaw-thrust
• C. Clear airway with suction only
• D. Check oxygen saturation

Answer: (A)

In trauma with suspected cervical spine injury, airway opening must protect the neck while ensuring the airway is open. The correct approach is to have two rescuers: one maintains manual stabilization of the cervical spine at the head, and the other using a jaw-thrust maneuver to open the airway without extending the neck. This combination keeps the spine in a neutral position while ensuring ventilation is possible. Tilting the head back would extend the cervical spine and risk further injury, so it’s not appropriate when a cervical injury is suspected. Suctioning can clear debris but does not guarantee an open airway, and checking oxygen saturation is an assessment step, not the method used to open the airway.

In trauma with suspected cervical spine injury, airway opening must protect the neck while ensuring the airway is open. The correct approach is to have two rescuers: one maintains manual stabilization of the cervical spine at the head, and the other using a jaw-thrust maneuver to open the airway without extending the neck. This combination keeps the spine in a neutral position while ensuring ventilation is possible. Tilting the head back would extend the cervical spine and risk further injury, so it’s not appropriate when a cervical injury is suspected. Suctioning can clear debris but does not guarantee an open airway, and checking oxygen saturation is an assessment step, not the method used to open the airway.