UCLA EMT - Airway Exam Study Guide
Questions and Answers 100% Correct
List the indications for the head tilt chin-lift and jaw thrust maneuvers. When doing a
head tilt chin lift, the patient is in a supine position and you are beside the patient's head. Place
the heel of one hand on the patient's forehead and push it back to tilt their head. This extension of
the neck will move the tongue forward and away from the back of the throat, and keep it from
blocking the airway. Place the fingertips of your other hand under the lower jaw (do not
compress the soft tissue under the chin as this may block the airway), and lift the chin upward to
bring the entire jaw up with the rest of the head, helping to tilt the head back. Lift so that the
teeth are nearly brought together but avoid closing the mouth completely. Use the jaw thrust
maneuver if you suspect the person has a cervical spine injury. Kneel above the patient's head
and place your fingers behind the angles of the lower jaw, and move it upward. Use your thumbs
to help position the lower jaw to allow breathing through the mouth and nose. The airway should
open with the mouth slightly open and the jaw jutting forward. Both are used to open patient's
airway, and it is used on unconscious patients. It can also be used to open the airway and relieve
an obstruction and maybe allow it to come up more easily.
Describe the technique for applying an oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal airway. An
oropharyngeal airway is used to keep the tongue from blocking the upper airway. It is used when
the patient is unresponsive and they don't have a gag reflex. To select the right size, measure
from the earlobe or angle of the jaw to the corner of the mouth. Open the patient's mouth with
, the cross finger technique, and insert the airway with the tip facing the roof of the mouth. Once
you cannot push it in further, Rotate the airway 180 degrees. The airway should rest in the mouth
with the curvature following the counter of the anatomy. The flange should rest against the lips
or the teeth, and the other end opening into the pharynx. The nasopharyngeal airway is used with
unresponsive patients or patients with altered level of consciousness who have intact gag
reflexes. Consult medical control before inserting into patients with severe head or face trauma.
Don't use on patients with blood draining from the nose or patients with a history of a fractured
nasal bone. Make sure you have the right size by measuring from the tip of the patient's nose to
the earlobe. Have the bevel facing the septum when inserting. When using the left nare, insert
until resistance and then turn it 180 degrees. The flange should rest against the nostril. The other
end of the airway opens into the posterior pharynx. If the patient becomes intolerant, you may
have to remove it. Both are used on patients in respiratory failure (less than 10 times a minute or
more than 30 times a minute).
List the steps in the primary assessment including the pertinent findings. What is their
level of consciousness (AVPU and A/O)? Is the airway open and patent, or obstructed. Are there
clear and equal lung sounds bilaterally? Regular pattern of inhalation and exhalation? Do they
have a normal breathing rate between 12-20 breaths per minute? Is there regular and equal chest
rise and fall with adequate depth? Abnormal breathing if the respiratory rate is lower than 12 or
higher than 20. Irregular rhythm is dyspnea or apnea with deep breaths.
Is skin normal color, dry, and warm, or is is pale, cyanotic, cool, and moist (clammy)? Is the
pulse rate between 60-100 bpm? Decide to transport.
Questions and Answers 100% Correct
List the indications for the head tilt chin-lift and jaw thrust maneuvers. When doing a
head tilt chin lift, the patient is in a supine position and you are beside the patient's head. Place
the heel of one hand on the patient's forehead and push it back to tilt their head. This extension of
the neck will move the tongue forward and away from the back of the throat, and keep it from
blocking the airway. Place the fingertips of your other hand under the lower jaw (do not
compress the soft tissue under the chin as this may block the airway), and lift the chin upward to
bring the entire jaw up with the rest of the head, helping to tilt the head back. Lift so that the
teeth are nearly brought together but avoid closing the mouth completely. Use the jaw thrust
maneuver if you suspect the person has a cervical spine injury. Kneel above the patient's head
and place your fingers behind the angles of the lower jaw, and move it upward. Use your thumbs
to help position the lower jaw to allow breathing through the mouth and nose. The airway should
open with the mouth slightly open and the jaw jutting forward. Both are used to open patient's
airway, and it is used on unconscious patients. It can also be used to open the airway and relieve
an obstruction and maybe allow it to come up more easily.
Describe the technique for applying an oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal airway. An
oropharyngeal airway is used to keep the tongue from blocking the upper airway. It is used when
the patient is unresponsive and they don't have a gag reflex. To select the right size, measure
from the earlobe or angle of the jaw to the corner of the mouth. Open the patient's mouth with
, the cross finger technique, and insert the airway with the tip facing the roof of the mouth. Once
you cannot push it in further, Rotate the airway 180 degrees. The airway should rest in the mouth
with the curvature following the counter of the anatomy. The flange should rest against the lips
or the teeth, and the other end opening into the pharynx. The nasopharyngeal airway is used with
unresponsive patients or patients with altered level of consciousness who have intact gag
reflexes. Consult medical control before inserting into patients with severe head or face trauma.
Don't use on patients with blood draining from the nose or patients with a history of a fractured
nasal bone. Make sure you have the right size by measuring from the tip of the patient's nose to
the earlobe. Have the bevel facing the septum when inserting. When using the left nare, insert
until resistance and then turn it 180 degrees. The flange should rest against the nostril. The other
end of the airway opens into the posterior pharynx. If the patient becomes intolerant, you may
have to remove it. Both are used on patients in respiratory failure (less than 10 times a minute or
more than 30 times a minute).
List the steps in the primary assessment including the pertinent findings. What is their
level of consciousness (AVPU and A/O)? Is the airway open and patent, or obstructed. Are there
clear and equal lung sounds bilaterally? Regular pattern of inhalation and exhalation? Do they
have a normal breathing rate between 12-20 breaths per minute? Is there regular and equal chest
rise and fall with adequate depth? Abnormal breathing if the respiratory rate is lower than 12 or
higher than 20. Irregular rhythm is dyspnea or apnea with deep breaths.
Is skin normal color, dry, and warm, or is is pale, cyanotic, cool, and moist (clammy)? Is the
pulse rate between 60-100 bpm? Decide to transport.
