Proper Positioning
Advanced airway management always begins with simple basic airway maneuvers. Realistically thinking if ALS airway interventions fail, we can fall back on good BLS. Our goals in the prehospital environment include optimizing oxygenation and ventilation. Having the ability to open the airway with the head-tilt chin-lift maneuver is the minimum standard for all prehospital providers. In addition, patients with a suspected cervical spine injury should have the airway opened with the jaw-thrust maneuver.
"Although the risk of c-spine injury must be considered, adequate oxygenation is more important in the trauma patient." [11]