New York State Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Practice Exam

If a patient with a suspected spinal injury is unresponsive, what technique should be used to open their airway?

1. Head tilt-chin lift

2. Jaw thrust

3. Tongue-jaw lift

4. Modified jaw thrust

The correct answer is: Jaw thrust

In the case of an unresponsive patient with a suspected spinal injury, the jaw thrust technique is the preferred method for opening the airway. This technique is specifically designed to minimize movement of the cervical spine while providing access to the airway. The jaw thrust involves placing the fingertips behind the angles of the patient's jaw and using them to lift the mandible forward, thus displacing the tongue away from the back of the throat without tilting the head. This is crucial when dealing with potential spinal injuries because head tilt or chin lift techniques could compromise spinal alignment and exacerbate any existing injury. When evaluating other techniques, the head tilt-chin lift method is inappropriate for this scenario due to the potential for spinal movement. The tongue-jaw lift may not adequately manage airway obstruction in this context, and the modified jaw thrust, while a variation that can be helpful, typically is not as effective in providing airway control when spinal injury is suspected. Overall, using the jaw thrust allows the EMT to ensure the airway is open while maintaining the integrity of the spinal column, making it the safest and most effective choice in this situation.