First Aid Step 4 - Airway
You’ve finished checking for Danger and a found no Response, you’ve Send for Help. Now you need to check the casualties Airways.
Airway
Why do you check for airways?
We want to make sure there is nothing blocking the person’s airway. If their airway is blocked the person will either struggle to breathe or not be able to breathe due to the blockage. As the casualty is unconscious, they cannot tell us if there is something lodged in their throat or something in their mouth that could cause a blockage.
What could block an Airways?
Look inside the casualty’s mouth for any foreign object. The only thing that belongs in a person’s mouth are teeth and tongue. Everything else is classified as a foreign object, including water.
What to do if they have a foreign object in their mouth?
If they have a foreign object in their mouth, roll them onto their side and scoop it out using your 2 fingers, be careful not to push or force it back down their throat. Remember to wear gloves.
The most common obstruction of an unconscious casualty’s airway is the tongue. To move the tongue, tilt the casualty’s head back (point their chin to the sky). This provides an open airway and allows the casualty to breathe.
What are the steps in checking an airway?
Step 1: Look inside their mouth for any foreign objects.
Step 2: Once clear, tilt head back to open airway.
If there is something blocking their airway:
+Turn them onto their side
+Clear object out of their mouth
+Put them back onto their back
+Complete step 2 – Head tilt
The HEAD TILT is very important as it moves the tongue away from blocking the persons airway. The tongue is the number 1 cause of airway blockage.
If it is a CHILD, give a half or partial head tilt in Step 2.
If it is an INFANT, do not tilt their head back, leave it in a neutral position.
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