Final answer:
When there is an airway obstruction and a potential spinal cord injury, the Jaw thrust maneuver should be used to open the airway. This maneuver avoids neck movement which is critical for spinal cord injury management.
Step-by-step explanation:
If airway obstruction occurs at the accident site and spinal cord injury is suspected the appropriate maneuver to open the airway is a) Jaw thrust. This technique is preferred because it allows for the opening of the airway without moving the neck, which is crucial when a spinal cord injury is suspected. The Jaw thrust maneuver involves displacing the jaw forward without tilting or extending the patient's neck as doing so can potentially cause further harm to the spinal cord.
The Head tilt-chin lift maneuver is commonly used when there is no suspicion of spinal injury, as it involves tilting the head back and lifting the chin to open the airway. The Heimlich maneuver and chest compressions are not typically used to clear an airway obstruction at the accident site when a spinal injury is a concern; the Heimlich maneuver is more appropriate for a choking victim when an object is lodged in the throat and chest compressions are part of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).