Opening the Airway

Head tilt and chin lift technique after checking responsiveness

Step by Step

Before checking breathing on any unresponsive person, open the airway. Kneel beside them, place one hand on the forehead, and two fingers of the other hand under the bony tip of the chin, then tilt the head back and lift the chin. This lifts the tongue off the back of the throat, the most common airway obstruction in an unconscious person. For a suspected spinal injury, use a jaw thrust if trained, or keep head tilt minimal. Then look, listen, and feel for normal breathing for up to 10 seconds. Gasping or irregular breaths do not count as normal breathing: start CPR. Vomit or objects in the mouth can be cleared by rolling the person on their side and sweeping visible material out with a finger, never blindly.