Jaw thrust

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The Jaw Thrust Maneuver is a technique for opening an unresponsive patient's airway in situations where there is a chance of cervical spine injury. ILCOR no longer advocates use of the jaw thrust, even for spinal-injured victims. Instead, continue use of the head-tilt chin-lift. If there is no risk of spinal injury, it is preferrable to use the head-tilt chin-lift procedure which is easier to perform and maintain.

This maneuver is typically performed on a supine (laying down) patient by kneeling down with your knees at their head and by grasping the posterior (back) aspects of mandible (lower jaw) with the fingers of both hands (with the thumbs at the chin) and lifting up. When the mandible is displaced forward, it pulls the tongue forward and prevents it from occluding (blocking) the entrance to the trachea, helping to ensure a patent (secure) airway.