HOSA Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Practice Test

The essential actions in controlling the airway involve opening and securing the airway to ensure that a patient can breathe effectively. Opening the airway typically involves maneuvers such as the head-tilt-chin-lift or the jaw-thrust maneuver, which help to remove any obstructions and allow air to flow freely. Securing the airway may involve using devices like an oropharyngeal airway (OPA) or nasopharyngeal airway (NPA) to maintain an open passage.

This choice is crucial because if the airway is not opened and secured properly, there could be life-threatening consequences, such as hypoxia or respiratory failure. While assessing and treating, ventilating and transporting, or monitoring and evaluating are all important components of patient management, they follow the crucial initial step of establishing a secure airway. Without a clear airway, other interventions may be ineffective or impossible.