Form a first impression
Look for alertness, posture, visible distress, facial injury, secretions, vomit, blood, swelling, or burns.
How → Why → Practice
Recognize whether the airway is open—and act before it fails.
Work through technique, clinical meaning, and randomized patient encounters. Every practice case requires you to classify the finding, choose the next action, and document it objectively.
0 of 3 lessons complete
Lesson 1
HOW: Perform an airway assessment
Assess the airway early, correct immediate threats, and reassess after every intervention.
Check responsiveness
A patient who speaks clearly has airflow at that moment. A reduced level of consciousness increases obstruction risk.
Look, listen, and feel
Observe chest movement and the mouth. Listen for normal speech or abnormal sounds such as snoring, gurgling, or stridor.
Open the airway
Use a head-tilt/chin-lift when trauma is not suspected. Use a jaw-thrust when spinal injury is suspected, following training and protocol.
Clear and maintain
Remove visible, easily reachable material; suction when indicated; and use an appropriate basic airway adjunct within scope.
Assess breathing
After opening the airway, determine whether breathing is adequate. Provide oxygen or ventilation support according to findings and local protocol.
Quick airway sequence
Can the patient speak? → Is air moving? → Are abnormal sounds present? → Does the airway need opening, clearing, suction, or an adjunct? → Is ventilation adequate?
Common findings
- Clear speech: airway currently patent, but continue assessment.
- Snoring: soft-tissue obstruction is likely.
- Gurgling: fluid or secretions may be present.
- Stridor: upper-airway narrowing or obstruction.
- Silent airway/no air movement: critical obstruction or apnea.
Common mistakes
- Assuming a normal respiratory rate means the airway is open.
- Placing an adjunct without checking contraindications.
- Suctioning without preparing oxygen and ventilation support.
- Failing to reassess after repositioning or suction.
- Documenting only “airway patent” without objective evidence.
Lesson 2
WHY: Understand what airway findings mean
An airway can deteriorate rapidly. Recognizing the mechanism helps you choose the correct basic intervention.
Loss of muscle tone
With reduced consciousness, the tongue and surrounding soft tissue can fall backward and obstruct airflow. Positioning or an adjunct may be needed.
Fluid in the airway
Blood, vomit, and secretions interfere with airflow and increase aspiration risk. Gurgling is a cue to expose, clear, and suction.
Upper-airway swelling
Allergic reaction, infection, inhalation injury, or trauma may narrow the upper airway. Stridor, voice change, swelling, and increasing effort are concerning.
Foreign-body obstruction
Air movement and speech may be partial or absent. Treatment depends on responsiveness and whether the obstruction is mild or severe.
FindingLikely meaningPriority
Clear voiceAir is passing through the upper airway nowContinue complete assessment
SnoringSoft-tissue obstructionOpen/reposition; consider adjunct
GurglingLiquid or secretionsClear and suction
StridorUpper-airway narrowingHigh priority; prepare rapid support
No air movementComplete obstruction or apneaImmediate lifesaving action
Knowledge check
Full scenario mode: complete this assessment for the active patient. Teaching sections and patient changes are locked until you leave the scenario.
Lesson 3
PRACTICE: Assess, classify, act, and document
Read the encounter, reveal the airway finding, then complete each decision in order.
Randomized patient
Patient encounter
Airway finding
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Coaching feedback
Example documentation: