[1] When a patient becomes unconscious, the muscles in the jaw commonly relax and can allow the tongue to slide back and obstruct the airway.

The purpose of the flared end is to prevent the device from becoming lost inside the patient's nose.

[5] These devices are used by emergency care professionals such as EMTs and paramedics in situations where an artificial form of airway maintenance is necessary, but tracheal intubation is impossible, inadvisable, or outside the practitioner's scope of practice.

[7][8] The use of an NPA is contraindicated when there is trauma to the face, especially the nose or if there is a suspected skull fracture.

[5] The device is inserted until the flared end rests against the nostril.