"Head tilt chin lift airway maneuver" – with one hand placed on the forehead lift the patients chin with the fingers of the other hand.

It is performed by tilting the head backwards by applying pressure to the forehead and the chin. The maneuver is used in any patient in whom cervical spine injury is not a concern and is taught in most first aid courses.

"The Triple Maneuver" or „Jaw Thrust“ – Grasp the angles of the lower jaw and lift with both hands, one on each side, moving the jaw forward.

The cause of airway obstruction may also be the presence of a foreign body, i.e. vomit or coagulated blood. In the unconscious patient if the presence of a foreign body in the airway is suspected we can try to remove the body either manually, with a suction unit or with the aid of special equipment (Magill's forceps, laryngoscope).

Maneuvers to remove a foreign body from the airways:

Gordon's maneuver or back blows between the scapulas.

Heimlich's Maneuver: Use only in the conscious patient who is unable to cough out a foreign body from the airways and in whom blows between the scapulae were not effective. We hug the patient from behind and connect the the hands at the abdomen in the area of ​​the epigastrium, sharply pushing up and back toward the diaphragm several times. It is contraindicated in children and pregnant women.