What is the recommended maneuver for an unconscious casualty to open the airway?

The recommended maneuver for opening the airway in an unconscious casualty is the head tilt/chin lift technique. This method is effective because it helps to specifically lift the tongue away from the back of the throat, creating a clearer airway. When an individual is unconscious, the muscles of the throat can relax, leading to obstruction, and the head tilt/chin lift addresses this by leveraging the anatomical structure of the head and neck to maintain airway patency.

The head tilt involves tilting the head backward while the chin is lifted forward, which aligns the airway passages and enables better airflow. This technique is widely recognized in basic life support and advanced airway management protocols due to its straightforward application and effectiveness.

Other options, while relevant to airway management in certain contexts, are not the first line for unconscious individuals. For instance, the jaw thrust is especially useful in cases where spinal injury is suspected, as it minimizes movement of the cervical spine. Adjusting the position of the arms and using compression techniques are unrelated to directly opening the airway in unconscious patients, making them inappropriate choices for this scenario.