Final answer:
Gentle suction to the back of the throat and trachea is essential for clearing a newborn's airway post-birth. The body prevents food from entering the lungs using the epiglottis and the cough reflex.
Step-by-step explanation:
Suction to the back of the throat and trachea is indeed essential for clearing a newborn's airway. When a baby is first born, they may have fluid in their airway which can make it difficult to breathe. The use of gentle suction can help to remove this fluid, allowing the baby to take their first breaths without obstruction. It is therefore true that suction can be critical in the immediate post-birth period.
There are two main ways that the body prevents food from entering the lungs: the first is through the action of the epiglottis, a flap of tissue that closes over the trachea when we swallow, directing food and liquid into the esophagus instead. The second is coughing, a reflex that helps to expel any food or foreign objects that accidentally enter the airway.