NREMT Skillset/Airway Opening with Jaw Thrust
| Subskill of | Penetrating Chest Trauma Primary Assessment Spinal Immobilization Adult Trauma Patient Assessment Airway Breathing Head Trauma Spinal Trauma |
|---|---|
| Acting roles | EMR emergency medical responder EMT emergency medical technician paramedic |
| Pathologies | compromised airway |
| Body systems | respiratory system |
| Body parts | head |
Jaw thrust
Stand at the head of the stretcher and place your palms on the patient’s temples and your fingers under the mandibular rami. In patients with possible cervical spine injury, avoid extending the neck.
Lift the mandible upward with your fingers, at least until the lower incisors are higher than the upper incisors. This maneuver lifts the tongue along with the mandible, thus relieving upper airway obstruction. Be sure to pull or push up only on the bony parts of the mandible. Pressure to the soft tissues of the neck may obstruct the airway.
| Authors | GSTC |
|---|---|
| License | CC-BY-SA-4.0 |
| Cite as | GSTC (2020–2025). "NREMT Skillset/Airway Opening with Jaw Thrust". Appropedia. Retrieved February 26, 2026. |