Check airway

After rescuing a victim from danger, check their airway, breathing and circulation. If there is a visible obstruction of the upper airway which can be removed easily, then follow the procedure for doing so; once that has been accomplished, follow the most recent guidelines for CPR.

Review Date:1/2/2023
Reviewed By:Jesse Borke, MD, CPE, FAAEM, FACEP, Attending Physician at Kaiser Permanente, Orange County, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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