After an injury, a lacrosse player is determined to be not breathing, and there is no indication of a head or spinal injury. How should the team physician MOST appropriately respond to open the player’s airway?

Because there is no indication of a head or spinal injury, the appropriate way to open the airway is the head-tilt/chin-lift method. A jaw thrust is generally preferred when a spinal injury is suspected, because it minimizes neck movement. The AVPU scale assesses responsiveness, and removing a helmet does not itself open the airway.

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