A — Airway

A Airway

Ensure the casualty can breathe

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Quick Assessment

Finding	Meaning
Talking normally	Airway clear — move on
Snoring	Tongue obstruction
Gurgling	Fluid in airway
Stridor	Upper airway narrowing
Silent + no chest rise	Complete obstruction

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Conscious Casualty

• Allow position of comfort
• Don’t force interventions if breathing OK
• Suction if available for blood/secretions
• Monitor for deterioration

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Unconscious Casualty

Basic Maneuvers:

1. Head-tilt/chin-lift

   • Tilt head back, lift chin forward
   • Opens airway by moving tongue off back of throat

2. Jaw thrust (if spinal injury suspected)

   • Hands on both sides of head
   • Push mandible forward without moving neck

3. Recovery position

   • On side, mouth pointing down
   • Allows drainage, maintains airway
   • Only if no spinal injury suspected

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Nasopharyngeal Airway (NPA)

When to use:

• Unconscious casualty
• Snoring/obstructed despite positioning
• Need hands-free airway maintenance

Insertion:

1. Select size (tip of nose to earlobe)
2. Lubricate with water or water-based lube
3. Insert into nostril perpendicular to face
4. Advance along floor of nasal cavity
5. Stop when flange reaches nostril

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Obstruction Management

Visible obstruction:

• Finger sweep only if you can SEE the object
• Suction for blood/fluid

Suspected obstruction in unconscious:

• Head-tilt/chin-lift
• Jaw thrust
• NPA
• If ineffective: consider cricothyroidotomy (advanced)

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Don’t Over-Intervene

If the casualty:

• Is conscious
• Is speaking clearly
• Has no respiratory distress

→ Airway is adequate. Move to R.

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Reassess

• Any change in consciousness level
• Any new respiratory sounds
• After any movement or position change
• Every 5 minutes minimum