Table of Contents
- Intro
- Types of Basic Airway Procedures
- When to Perform the Jaw Thrust Maneuver vs. the Head Tilt–Chin Lift Maneuver
- How to Perform the Jaw Thrust Maneuver
- How to Get Your Staff CPR Certified
When performing CPR rescue breaths, it’s essential to ensure that the victim’s airway remains clear. In most cases, rescuers can tilt the victim’s head and lift their chin to optimize airflow into the lungs.
However, if the victim has experienced certain kinds of injuries, tilting their head could be inadvisable and even dangerous. In such cases, the jaw thrust maneuver — sometimes called the modified jaw thrust maneuver — should be used.
In this article, you’ll learn how to perform the jaw thrust maneuver properly so that you can add it to your quiver of essential first aid techniques. However, as with all life-saving first aid techniques, knowing when to use the jaw thrust maneuver is just as important as knowing how to perform it.
Read on to learn how and when to use the jaw thrust maneuver!
Types of Basic Airway Procedures
When someone is struggling to breathe, every second counts. That’s why it’s important to know how to manage their airway effectively. These basic airway procedures are straightforward but life-saving skills that everyone, from first responders to good samaritans, should know to be prepared in emergencies.
Head Tilt–Chin Lift Maneuver
This technique is used to open the airway in an unresponsive victim. By placing one hand on the victim’s forehead and the other hand under the chin, you gently tilt the head back and lift the chin upward. This maneuver helps lift the tongue off the back of the throat, allowing air to pass through the airway.
Want an easy-to-follow resource for the head tilt–chin lift maneuver? Check out our infographic below, which outlines when and how to perform this life-saving technique.

Jaw Thrust Maneuver
If a victim has a suspected cervical spine injury, the jaw thrust maneuver is preferred. This method helps open the airway while minimizing potential injury to the neck and spine, making it ideal for victims with possible injuries to these areas.
Oropharyngeal Airway (OPA) Insertion
An OPA is a device that maintains an open airway by preventing the tongue from obstructing the back of the throat. To use an OPA, measure the device from the corner of the mouth to the ear lobe, then gently insert it into the mouth while rotating it 180 degrees to avoid pushing the tongue back.
Nasopharyngeal Airway (NPA) Insertion
An NPA is a device used in cases where an OPA can’t be used, often due to gag reflex or trauma. To use an NPA, measure the airway from the tip of the nose to the earlobe, then gently insert it into the nostril, ensuring it follows the natural curve of the nasal passage. This device helps keep the airway open while allowing for natural breathing.
These procedures ensure that everyone has a fighting chance when faced with breathing difficulties, making you and your team members an invaluable asset in any emergency.
When to Perform the Jaw Thrust Maneuver vs. the Head Tilt–Chin Lift Maneuver
While the head tilt–chin lift maneuver works well in many cases and has the advantage of being somewhat easier to perform, it shouldn’t be used in scenarios in which there’s a possibility of neck injury. The jaw thrust maneuver should be used whenever there’s an injury to the cervical spine that could be aggravated by the head tilt–chin lift maneuver.
You may not always be able to tell whether the victim has suffered a spinal injury, so if the emergency involves any potential physical trauma, such as a car accident, a fall, or other injury, use the jaw thrust maneuver.
In general, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
If you come across an unresponsive person and don’t know what happened to them, it’s best to perform the jaw thrust maneuver as opposed to the head tilt–chin lift maneuver just in case they’ve suffered an injury to their cervical spine.
Special Considerations for Suspected Spinal Cord Injuries
When dealing with a suspected spinal cord injury, extra caution avoids causing further harm.
Traditional methods of opening a victim’s airway like the head tilt–chin lift maneuver should be avoided as they can move the head and neck, potentially aggravating the injury. Instead, focus on techniques that maintain spinal stability.
The jaw thrust maneuver becomes especially important in these cases. It allows you to open the airway while keeping the head and neck in a fixed position, reducing the risk of additional spinal damage.
If any adjustment or movement is needed, use soft padding or manual stabilization to maintain a neutral head and neck position. This careful approach helps protect the spinal cord and reduces the risk of paralysis or other spine-related injuries.
Your attention to these special considerations can significantly impact the victim’s outcome and their recovery.
Understand when and how to perform the jaw thrust maneuver with our infographic below.

How to Perform the Jaw Thrust Maneuver
When performed correctly, the jaw thrust maneuver brings the victim’s tongue away from their throat. This prevents airway obstruction during rescue breathing without risk of aggravating any injuries to the cervical spine.
In addition to being useful during CPR, the jaw thrust maneuver can also be used in any other situation in which an unconscious person with a potential spinal injury is at risk of blocking their airway.
To perform the jaw thrust maneuver, follow these steps:
- Kneel down above the victim’s head. Place your hands on either side of the victim’s face.
- Position your middle fingers on the angle of the victim’s jaw, and place your thumbs on the victim’s cheekbones.
- Gently squeeze your fingers and palms together while moving the victim’s jaw forward. Then carefully push the victim’s jaw downward, toward their feet. Make sure the victim’s head remains stationary and that you’re not applying pressure to the neck.
- Monitor the victim’s breathing and adjust your technique as needed while keeping the head and neck stable.
On top of helping rescuers save lives, the jaw thrust maneuver also helps mitigate spinal injuries. As such, it’s an essential first aid technique that everyone should know, particularly those whose jobs require them to be CPR certified.
To help you and your team stay prepared in emergencies, we’ve put together a complete guide to performing the jaw thrust maneuver. Download and distribute the guide by clicking the button below.
How to Get Your Staff CPR Certified
Knowing how to perform valuable first aid techniques like the jaw thrust maneuver can help save lives. That’s why it is so important to make sure your staff members are trained on how to perform it, along with other lifesaving skills.
Looking for the best first step? ProTrainings can help! With our portfolio of outstanding online first aid classes and certifications, we make getting your whole team trained and certified quicker, easier, and more convenient than ever before.
Check out our website to learn more about how we can streamline the process of getting your staff CPR certified and ready for any emergency.