What is the best way to open the airway of an unresponsive person?

The head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver is considered the best option for opening the airway of an unresponsive person when there is no indication of a spinal injury. This method involves tilting the head back while lifting the chin forward, which helps to lift the tongue away from the back of the throat and clear the airway. This action is particularly effective in restoring airflow because it addresses the most common cause of airway obstruction in unresponsive individuals—tongue occlusion.

In situations where a spinal injury is suspected, the jaw thrust technique or modified jaw thrust would be preferred to minimize neck movement. However, in the absence of any spinal injury concerns, the head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver is the quickest and most efficient way to ensure the airway remains open, allowing for effective ventilation and oxygenation before emergency responders arrive.

Manual cervical immobilization is primarily used to stabilize the spine and prevent movement during assessments; it is not an airway-opening technique but rather a precautionary measure. Therefore, the head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver is prioritized in standard first aid for its effectiveness in managing airway obstruction in an unresponsive individual.