If you stopped someone and asked them who they thought was most at risk of choking to death, the answer would probably be either a baby, or a child. The numbers however, tell us something different.
Data from the ONS on cause of death which specifically included choking, highlighted the common held belief is incorrect. In general, the older you are the more likely you are to die from choking.
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A choking incident at a residential care home run by Hft was over in seconds after support staff turned to their Dechoker – just weeks after the leading adult care provider rolled out the devices.
It did not take long for the life-saving equipment to be called into action after Hft, one of the largest charities supporting people with learning disabilities, completed a roll-out of Dechoker ACD kits and training late last year.
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We are continuing the year with another 2 Care Home home providers deploying their Dechoker ACD equipment in a choking emergency. Once again care staff were forced to turn to the equipment when they ran out of options with First Aid.
The homes, at near opposite ends of the country in Liverpool and Southampton, both belong to separate care providers who Dechoker kits across all services.
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With multiple Dechoker ACD kits deployed BEFORE Christmas, the FIRST WEEK of the New Year has already seen 2 choking deaths prevented in 2 different adult care settings within days.
In one case staff struggled to deliver Back Blows and Abdominal Thrusts/Heimlich due to the individual being a wheelchair user. In both cases, the Dechoker successfully removed the obstruction and the resident’s recovered quickly.
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In the few weeks leading up to Christmas, three of our Adult Care clients deployed their Dechoker ACD equipment in a life or death choking emergency. And with only a few days into the New Year, we have already recorded our first life-saved.
In each case, not only was their a positive outcome, none of those involved were required to attend A&E after the incident. A clear and obvious improvement over what was most likely leading to a very different outcome.
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For every use of a Dechoker ACD in a choking emergency we receive feedback. This allows us to monitor safety and collate information used for research.
Those involved with the choking incident and use of the Dechoker often add a their own comment at the end. The emotion is often quite clear as they recall the event.
Continue reading “Dechoker: “I was sceptical. Until I had to use it”” Read More
It’s easy to forget that when a choking incident occurs the implications can be huge – even if the person survives. There is the trauma to the individual, the impact on staff and also the residents around them.
If the person requires and visit to A&E then a member of staff is going to need to accompany them. The implications around Covid-19 and being off site will also need to be considered.
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A supported living service on the South Coast has become the latest Adult Care provider to deploy a Dechoker ACD when a a resident began to choke. The Risk Assessment completed by the care provider had demonstrated that in the event of a choking incident a response would have been very limited.
Whilst back blows and abdominal thrusts may be suitable for the majority, as a permanent wheelchair user it is clear the the latter or, even both of these procedures, will present a challenge.
Continue reading “LIFE SAVED: Back Slaps = Fail, Abdominal Thrusts = Impossible” Read More
KNOWING what to do – yet being unable to do it – could be more frustrating than NOT KNOWING what to do. In a life or death situation this is fairly obvious, and yet it happens multiple times a day in adult care.
The Dechoker ACD does NOT replace Choking Basic Life Support (and for the record we have never suggested otherwise) and is there as a last resort when exiting procedures prove ineffective.
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Another life saved with a Dechoker ACD to add to the list. A list that gets longer every week, often with more than one incident reported to us from a Dechoker client here in the UK
As is common it was a piece of food that was blocking the resident’s airway and proved difficult to remove. Unresolved they would have died very quickly – fortunately care staff are trained and have access to Dechoker ACD kits placed across the service.
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