Airway

Apnea after high-mechanism trauma

A fall from height with apnea is a trauma airway problem and a spine problem at the same time. Moving the head before someone holds the neck can worsen an unstable cervical injury.

Manual cervical spine stabilization comes first, then open the airway (jaw-thrust preferred), insert an adjunct if indicated, and ventilate with a bag-valve mask. Full board packaging waits until life threats in the ABCs are addressed.