To perform the airway-opening maneuver without moving the head, select which action?

• A. Thrust the lower jaw upward
• B. Lift the chin and tilt the head
• C. Tilt the head back and extend the neck
• D. Extend the neck to lift the tongue

Answer: (A)

Opening the airway without moving the head relies on the jaw-thrust maneuver. By lifting the lower jaw upward, you push the mandible forward to move the tongue away from the back of the throat, widening the airway while keeping the head and neck in a neutral position. This neutral alignment is essential when a cervical spine injury is possible, because it avoids flexing or extending the neck.

Other options involve tilting or extending the neck, which would move the head and neck and could jeopardize spinal stability. Lifting the chin and tilting the head, tilting the head back and extending the neck, or extending the neck to lift the tongue all change neck position instead of keeping it neutral.