Queensland Paediatric Emergency Care
Nursing Skill Sheets
Airway Manoeuvres: Head Tilt & Chin Lift
CHQ-NSS-51000 Airway Manoeuvres Head Tilt & Chin Lift v1.0
Developed by the State-wide Emergency Care of Children Working Group, March 2020
Opening the Airway
The simplest way of ensuring an open airway in an unconscious infant or child, is to use a head tilt chin lift technique. This manoeuvre is
contraindicated if there is concern of possible spinal injury. In these cases, a jaw thrust manoeuvre is recommended.
Head tilt & chin lift - Infant
Head tilt & chin lift - Child
Step 1:
Place a hand on the infant or child’s forehead, gently tilt the head back into
the correct position. Neutral for infants. Sniffing for children.
Step 2:
Preform a chin lift by placing fingers under the chin, lifting gently upwards,
without pressing on the soft tissue below the mandible.
• A towel or bunny rug can be utilised for
infants and toddlers, as a shoulder roll
to counteract the flexion caused by
their relatively larger head.
Tips in children
ALERT
Infants and children have narrower airways that are more easily obstructed by external compression.
Ensure no external pressure is accidently placed on the airway by hands or equipment.
Seek prompt senior nursing/medical advice for assistance in paediatric airway management.
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PRE MANOEUVRE POST MANOEUVRE = CORRECT POSITION
PRE MANOEUVRE POST MANOEUVRE = CORRECT POSITION
