Which option describes a complete airway obstruction in not breathing categories?

• A. COMPLETE obstruction
• B. Not breathing at all
• C. Drowning arrest (out of water)
• D. Hanging

Answer: (A)

A complete obstruction is when the airway is physically blocked so no air can pass into the lungs. In a not-breathing scenario, this means there is no ventilation because the airway cannot admit air, and the person cannot speak or cough effectively, often becoming cyanotic very quickly. That direct description—airway blockage with no airflow—best captures the state of a complete airway obstruction.

The other options describe not breathing for different reasons rather than specifying the airway status. Not breathing at all describes the absence of ventilation in general, but it doesn’t indicate that the airway is obstructed. Drowning arrest and hanging describe etiologies of not breathing (submersion and obstruction/circulation issues, respectively) rather than confirming that the airway itself is completely blocked.