Which elements are included in essential airway skills?

• A. Positioning, manual maneuvers, suction and NPA
• B. Intubation and mechanical ventilation
• C. Chest compressions and AED use
• D. Medication administration

Answer: (A)

Opening the airway is the first priority in emergency care, so the items that count as essential airway skills are those you can perform to keep the airway open without advanced equipment. This set includes positioning to prevent obstruction, manual maneuvers to open the airway (like head tilt–chin lift or jaw thrust), suction to clear secretions or vomit, and using a nasal airway to maintain patency when appropriate. Positioning targets different situations: a non-traumatic case uses head tilt–chin lift to stop the tongue from blocking the airway, while a jaw thrust is used when there may be a neck or spine injury to minimize movement. Suction physically removes material that blocks airflow, and a nasal airway provides a simple, noninvasive way to keep air flowing if the patient can’t maintain an open airway on their own. Other options involve steps beyond basic airway management: intubation and mechanical ventilation are advanced techniques requiring training and equipment; chest compressions and AED use focus on circulation; medication administration isn’t part of maintaining the airway.