Choking

Choking is a serious risk for people with dysphagia

I read the saddest news story this week.

An inquest jury has found that Tony Wilkinson, a disabled man with dysphagia, who choked to death in 2018, was ‘unlawfully killed’.

It’s also interesting to note the percentage distribution of associated causes of death for accidental suffocation by condition in over 65s.

People with learning disabilities such as Tony are at significant risk of choking.

The incidence of fatal choking incidents of people with learning disability is almost 100 times greater than in the general population¹.

There were 605 reports of choking-related incidents involving adults with learning disabilities over a 3 year period in the UK².
– 58% took place at mealtimes

and when looking at where they took place;

• 41% in care homes
• 58% in inpatient settings
• 1 % outside either setting

42% of 674 adult service-users with learning disability had one or more choking episodes³.

There was a significantly greater occurrence of choking among people with;

• more severe learning disability
• with Down syndrome
• people who had an incomplete dentition or
• were taking a greater number of psychotropic drugs

It’s really important that the speech and language therapist swallow recommendations are followed, that the dysphagia care plan is up to date, and that every single person who supports someone with dysphagia is aware of the recommendations.

The old National Patient Safety Agency produced excellent guidance especially for supporting people with learning disability. It can be found here.

The full story on Tony Wilkinson can be found here.

How to help someone who is choking can be found here.

Our training gives you the theory and practical support you need to ensure that none of the people in your care ever choke to death because the swallow recommendations and their rationale were not fully understood.

Ask us about our training here.