When someone is unconscious with a suspected spinal injury, the airway always takes priority. A blocked airway will kill someone within minutes. A spinal injury is still a broken bone and while it must be managed carefully, it does not override the need to open and maintain the airway. Think of it through the four B’s — bleeding, breathing, burns, breaks — and breathing comes well above breaks every time. Open the airway using a jaw thrust where possible to minimise spinal movement, but if that’s not working, do what needs to be done
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