How to Open an Airway for an Unresponsive Person with Head or Neck Trauma?

Update Date: 2024-05-27 Source: Network

Some diseases can be severe during onset, and if not treated promptly, they can directly affect the patient's life safety. In such cases, it is often necessary to use various emergency methods to prevent the condition from worsening and save the patient's life before the doctor arrives. Opening the airway is a common method, especially for those who have lost consciousness due to head or neck trauma. Methods include lifting the chin with both hands, tilting the head back and lifting the chin, and tilting the head back and lifting the neck.

1. Are there methods to open the airway for those who have lost consciousness due to head or neck trauma?

Yes, there are methods to open the airway for those who have lost consciousness due to head or neck trauma. When there is an injury to the neck, the method of lifting the chin with both hands should be used. The patient should lie flat, and the rescuer should grasp the patient's lower jaws from both sides and lift them up, tilting the head back and moving the jawbone forward to open the airway. This method is suitable for those with neck injuries, focusing on lifting the chin, and the patient's head should not be tilted back or turned left or right. When there is an injury to the neck, only the method of lifting the chin with both hands should be used to open the airway.

2. What are the three methods to open the airway?

There are three main methods to open the airway:

1. The jaw-thrust maneuver involves the rescuer placing one hand on the patient's forehead and pressing down to tilt the head back, while the other hand's thumb and fingers are placed under the chin to lift it forward, assisting in the tilting of the head and opening the airway. If necessary, the thumb can gently pull the lower lip to slightly open the mouth.

2. The head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver requires the patient to lie flat, and the rescuer to lift the patient's neck with one hand while pressing down on the forehead with the other hand to tilt the head back and open the airway.

3. The jaw-thrust maneuver involves the rescuer grasping the patient's lower jaws from both sides and lifting them up, tilting the head back and moving the jawbone forward to open the airway. This method is suitable for those with neck injuries, focusing on lifting the chin, and the patient's head should not be tilted back or turned left or right. It is important to note that for those with neck injuries, only the jaw-thrust maneuver should be used to open the airway, and the head-tilt, chin-lift and head-tilt, chin-raise maneuvers should be avoided to prevent further spinal cord injury.