Huvudlyft

Huvudlyft is a term used in Swedish first aid and medical practice referring to the action of tilting the head backward and lifting the chin to open and maintain an unobstructed airway for a person. It is commonly described as part of airway management during basic life support and emergency resuscitation.

The basic idea is to position the head so that the tongue and soft tissues are less likely to block the airway, making it easier to breathe or to ventilate with a bag-valve mask or mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. In adults, this usually involves placing one hand on the person's forehead to gently tilt the head back while lifting the chin with the other hand. Proper technique aims to avoid excessive force or neck extension.

In cases where a neck or spinal injury is suspected, the head-tilt maneuver may be avoided because of the risk of worsening injury. Instead, the jaw-thrust maneuver is used to open the airway while minimizing movement of the cervical spine. For infants and small children, airway opening is adapted to account for anatomical differences and safety considerations, often with less head extension and more careful head support.

Huvudlyft is taught in basic CPR and first aid training and is described in national resuscitation guidelines as a fundamental component of airway management. The term derives from Swedish, with huvud meaning head and lyft meaning lift.