You are assessing a young male patient who was ejected from an automobile at a high rate of speed. He responds to painful stimuli by posturing and displays agonal breathing. His pulse is weak and thready, and his skin is cool and diaphoretic. When addressing this patient's airway and breathing, the EMT must immediately:

Airway management is the use of medical devices and procedures to maintain or restore a patient's breathing, or ventilation. Airway management techniques are aimed at reducing complications associated with artificial airways and mechanical ventilation, such as airway obstructions, infection, and retained secretions