Considerations for delivery of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and choking management to people with profound and multiple learning disability and wheelchair users

Those who deliver care to people with learning disabilities must be able to manage a choking situation and possibly carry out basic life support (BLS). This involves maintaining airway patency and supporting breathing and the circulation. For nurses working in the disability sector there are no supplemental guidelines or evidence-based educational interventions for delivery of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or BLS to people with disabilities. This lack of specific guidance leaves nurses, healthcare professionals and disability support staff in a position where they are having to adjust standard care to meet the needs of people with disabilities during emergency situations, resulting in increased delays until care is initiated and an increase in premature or preventable deaths. Deegan, Page and Cash discuss these issues by using the Stimulate/Shake and Shout (SSS) followed by Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Defibrillation, Exposure (ABCDE) mnemonic focusing on extracts from the Resuscitation Council UK guidelines and include their considerations for you to take account of with people who have a learning disability which includes distorted body shape or people who use wheelchairs.