Airway Management & Ventilation Flashcards

When performing a head-tilt chin-lift on an adult, where should you place your fingers to lift the chin?

Answer: On the bony part of the lower jaw

Fingers should be placed on the bony part of the lower jaw to lift the chin without compressing the soft tissue, which could obstruct the airway.

A bag-mask device should deliver approximately how much air volume per breath to an adult?

Answer: 400–600 mL

Each breath should deliver approximately 500–600 mL (roughly 400–600 mL range), enough to produce visible chest rise without causing gastric inflation.

Which of the following is a sign that rescue breaths are being delivered correctly?

Answer: The patient's chest visibly rises with each breath

Visible chest rise with each breath confirms air is entering the lungs rather than the stomach.

In an unresponsive adult patient with no suspected spinal injury, which maneuver is preferred to open the airway?

Answer: Head-tilt chin-lift

The head-tilt chin-lift is the preferred airway maneuver for unresponsive patients without suspected spinal injury.

How long should each rescue breath be delivered during CPR?

Answer: About 1 second

Each breath should be given over about 1 second, which is enough to produce chest rise without causing excessive gastric inflation.

What is the correct compression-to-ventilation ratio for a single rescuer performing adult CPR?

Answer: 30:2

For adult CPR with one or two rescuers, the recommended compression-to-ventilation ratio is 30:2.

When using a bag-mask device with two rescuers, how should the mask be held?

Answer: Both hands on the mask forming an E-C clamp while the second rescuer squeezes the bag

With two rescuers, one forms an E-C clamp with both hands to maintain a mask seal while the second rescuer squeezes the bag, improving ventilation effectiveness.

An infant is found unresponsive. What is the preferred method to open their airway?

Answer: Neutral to slight head-tilt with gentle chin-lift

For infants, only a slight head-tilt with gentle chin-lift is used because hyperextension can actually close the airway in very young children.

During CPR, if the first rescue breath does not cause chest rise, what should you do before attempting the second breath?

Answer: Reposition the airway and ensure a proper seal, then try again

If chest rise does not occur, reposition the airway (re-tilt the head and re-lift the chin) and ensure a proper mask or mouth seal before attempting the second breath.

Which of the following is the most common cause of airway obstruction in an unconscious adult?

Answer: The tongue falling back into the throat

In unconscious patients, loss of muscle tone causes the tongue to relax and fall back, blocking the airway — which is why airway maneuvers focus on lifting the jaw.

When performing mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing on an adult, how do you prevent air from escaping through the nose?

Answer: Pinch the patient's nose shut with your fingers

The rescuer pinches the patient's nose shut to prevent air from escaping during mouth-to-mouth ventilation.

What is gastric inflation, and why is it a concern during rescue breathing?

Answer: Air forced into the stomach; it can cause vomiting and aspiration

Gastric inflation occurs when rescue breaths force air into the stomach, increasing the risk of regurgitation and aspiration of stomach contents into the lungs.

For a child (ages 1 year to puberty) receiving CPR from two rescuers, what is the correct compression-to-ventilation ratio?

Answer: 15:2

Two-rescuer pediatric CPR uses a 15:2 ratio because children are more likely to have respiratory causes of cardiac arrest and benefit from more frequent ventilations.

What does the acronym 'EC' stand for in the E-C clamp technique for bag-mask ventilation?

Answer: E (three fingers on jaw) and C (thumb and index finger on mask)

The E-C clamp uses three fingers (forming an 'E') to lift the jaw and two fingers (forming a 'C') to press the mask onto the face for a tight seal.

A bystander says they are unwilling to perform mouth-to-mouth breathing. What should you tell them to do?

Answer: Perform compression-only (hands-only) CPR

Hands-only (compression-only) CPR is a recommended alternative for bystanders unwilling or unable to provide rescue breaths, especially in adult sudden cardiac arrest.

When inserting an oropharyngeal airway in an adult, what is the correct insertion technique?

Answer: Insert upside down (curve toward the palate) and rotate 180° as it passes the tongue

In adults, the OPA is inserted with the tip pointing toward the roof of the mouth, then rotated 180° so the curve follows the tongue as it passes the soft palate.

Rescue breathing is being given to a child at what rate?

Answer: 1 breath every 2–3 seconds (20–30/min)

For a child with a pulse but no breathing, rescue breathing is delivered at 1 breath every 2–3 seconds, equivalent to 20–30 breaths per minute.

When performing rescue breathing for an infant, what is the correct mouth-to-airway technique?

Answer: Mouth covering both the mouth and nose of the infant

For infants, the rescuer covers both the mouth and nose with their mouth, because the infant's face is small enough to allow a complete seal over both openings.

What should you do if you notice the victim's stomach is rising during rescue breaths?

Answer: Reduce the volume and speed of breaths and ensure the airway is properly positioned

A rising stomach indicates air is going into the stomach; reduce breath volume and speed, recheck airway positioning, and ensure the head-tilt is adequate.

Which of the following correctly describes the flow of air during rescue breathing into a properly opened airway?

Answer: Mouth → pharynx → larynx → trachea → lungs

Air travels from the mouth through the pharynx, past the larynx and vocal cords, down the trachea, and into the lungs where gas exchange occurs.