Red Cross Lifeguard Practice Test

How can you confirm that the airway is open when performing CPR?

1. By checking the victim's pulse

2. By looking for chest rise

3. By performing a head tilt-chin lift

4. By observing the color of the lips

The correct answer is: By performing a head tilt-chin lift

The correct choice involves the head tilt-chin lift maneuver, which is a recognized method for ensuring that the airway is open. This technique effectively lifts the tongue away from the back of the throat, thereby preventing airway obstruction caused by the tongue falling back, particularly in unresponsive individuals. In the context of CPR, ensuring an open airway is critical because a blocked airway can hinder or completely prevent effective ventilation, making it impossible to deliver oxygen to the lungs. The head tilt-chin lift should be performed carefully to align the airway and allow for passage of air, which is crucial before initiating rescue breaths. Other methods, such as checking for a pulse or looking for chest rise, are indicators of circulation and the effectiveness of breaths delivered, but they do not directly address whether or not the airway is clear. Observing lip color can provide information about the victim’s oxygenation status but does not confirm the condition of the airway itself. Therefore, using the head tilt-chin lift is the most effective approach to ascertain and ensure that the airway is open during CPR.