Head Tilt-Chin Lift:

This maneuver should only be used if the physician is confident there is no risk of injury to the c-spine. Standing on the patient's right hand side, the physicians left hand is used to apply pressure to the forehead to extend the neck. The volar surfaces of the tips of the index and middle finger are used to elevate the mandible which will lift the tongue from the posterior pharynx.

Jaw Thrust:

Where there is risk of c-spine injury, such as a patient who is unconscious as a result of a head injury, the airway should be opened using a maneuver that does not require neck movement. The jaw thrust is performed by having the physician stand at the head of the patient looking down at the patient. The middle finger of the right hand is placed at the angle of the patient's jaw on the right. The middle finger of the left hand is similarly placed at the angle of the jaw on the left. An upward pressure is applied to elevate the mandible which will lift the tongue from the posterior pharynx.