EXCELLENCE
IN HEALTH AND FITNESS EDUCATION

airway management

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AIRWAY MANAGEMENT AIRWAY MANAGEMENT When a victim is unconscious, all muscles are relaxed. If the victim is left lying on their back, the tongue, which is attached to the back of the jaw, falls against the back wall of the throat and blocks air from entering the lungs. Other soft tissues of the airway may worsen this obstruction. The mouth falls open but this tends to block, rather than open, the airway..   UNCONSCIOUSNESS MUSCLE RELAXATION TONGUE BLOCKS AIRWAY REGURGITATION BY GRAVITY FROM THE STOMACH LOSS OFF COUGH – SWALLOW REFLEX                                 1              2               3  TONGUE DROPPED BACK AT BACK OF THROAT AIRWAY BLOCKED DUE TO RELAXED JAW PASSIVE REGURGITATION Causes of Airway Obstruction   Cardiac Arrest Comma Trauma Tongue displacement Anaphylaxis Foreign Body Irritants Tongue oedema Oropharynx obstruction Laryngeal spasm Foreign Body Laryngeal, tracheal or bronchial obstruction Anaphalaxis Infection Laryngeal oedema Trauma Laryngeal damage Asthma Foreign body Anaphylaxis Irritants Bronchial spasm Anaphylaxis Irritants Near drowning Neurogenic shock Pulmonary oedema   The obstruction to the airway by these soft tissues may be overcome by Backward Head Tilt together with Chin Lift. The unconscious victim is further at risk because of being unable to swallow or cough out foreign material in the airway. This may cause airway obstruction, laryngeal irritation or foreign material may enter the lungs. For this reason, the rescuer should not give an unconscious victim anything by mouth, and should not attempt to induce vomiting. In an unconscious victim, care of the airway takes precedence over any injury, including the possibility of spinal injury. All unconscious victims should be handled gently with no twisting or bending of the spinal column and especially the neck. If it is necessary, move the head gently to obtain a clear airway. Where possible, an assistant should support the head when an injured victim is being moved, but no time should be wasted in detailed positioning. The victim should not be routinely rolled onto the side to assess airway and breathing. Assessing the airway of the victim without turning onto the side (i.e. leaving them on the back or in the position in which they have been found) has the advantages of simplified teaching, taking less time to perform and avoids movement. The exceptions to this would be in submersion injuries or where the airway is obstructed with fluid (vomit or blood). In this instance the victim should be promptly rolled onto the side to clear the airway.