Airway: Clear the Airway

The goal is to clear the airway to allow your rescue breaths to reach the lungs of the victiim by relieving airway obstruction, such as tongue obstruction.  Put the person on his or her back on a firm surface. Kneel next to the person's neck and shoulders. Open the person's airway using the head tilt-chin lift. Put your palm on the person's forehead and gently push down.

Then with the other hand, gently lift the chin forward to open the airway. Check for normal breathing, taking no more than 10 seconds: look for chest motion, listen for breath sounds, and feel the person's breath on your cheek and ear. Do not consider gasping to be normal breathing. If the person isn't breathing normally or you aren't sure, begin mouth-to-mouth breathing.

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