During your primary assessment, what should you ensure about the airway?

During the primary assessment, ensuring that the airway is clear and open is crucial for several reasons. The airway is the pathway for air to enter and exit the lungs, and any obstruction can lead to inadequate oxygenation of the body, which can result in serious harm or even death.

A clear and open airway allows for effective breathing and is the first step in assessing and providing care to a patient. If the airway is obstructed, whether by the tongue, foreign objects, or other factors, it must be addressed immediately to ensure the patient can breathe.

In wilderness and remote settings, where help may be far away, the ability to manage the airway effectively can be directly linked to the patient’s survival. Therefore, maintaining an open airway is a fundamental aspect of first aid and emergency response protocols.

Other considerations, such as whether the airway is moistened or free from blood, while important in certain contexts, do not take precedence over the immediate necessity to ensure the airway is open for breathing.