What technique is used to open the airway during CPR?

Using the head-tilt/chin-lift technique is the recommended method for opening the airway during CPR. This technique involves placing one hand on the person’s forehead and applying gentle backward pressure to tilt the head back, while simultaneously placing the fingertips of the other hand under the chin to lift it upward. This action helps to lift the tongue away from the back of the throat, which can block the airway, thus allowing for better airflow and enabling effective rescue breaths.

This technique is essential because an obstructed airway can significantly impair a person's ability to breathe and can prevent the delivery of oxygen to the lungs during CPR. It's a straightforward and effective method that can be performed quickly in emergencies.

Other techniques, such as the jaw thrust or neck extension, may have specific applications in certain situations but are not the primary method recommended for routine CPR when a layperson is performing the procedure on an adult or child. The chin-lift alone does not encompass the head position adjustments needed to optimally manage the airway and is therefore not as effective as the head-tilt/chin-lift method.