You are called to the city pool to treat a drowning victim. The child has been underwater briefly; there is nothing to indicate spinal injury. How should you open the victim's airway?

• A. Jaw thrust
• B. Head tilt, chin lift
• C. Hyperextension
• D. Chin lift only

Answer: (B)

When there’s no sign of spinal injury, opening the airway in an unconscious child is best done with a head tilt and chin lift. Tilting the head back slightly and lifting the chin moves the tongue away from the airway and aligns the passages so air can flow more easily. This method is effective for a nontraumatic drowning victim where you want to provide breaths quickly.

Using a jaw thrust is reserved for suspected spinal injuries, because it stabilizes the neck while trying to open the airway, and it’s not as straightforward or as effective in a nontraumatic case. Hyperextension (extending the neck beyond neutral) can worsen airway obstruction and isn’t appropriate here. Lifting the chin alone without tilting the head back may not fully open the airway because the tongue can still block the airway.