A patient at a nursing home died after choking on toast. The nurse on duty did not provide CPR because the facility did not have one-way masks or have a policy to provide CPR. She also neglected to provide chest compressions. The patient was fed toast and began choking. Two caregivers were present and first tried to suction out the toast and then to sweep his mouth with two fingers. When neither option worked, they laid him on his side until the rescue squad arrived.
The patient died with no treatment received by the facility. Policies and procedures have changed now requiring CPR and provision of one-way masks to staff. The same nurse that withheld CPR now states that she would offer it in the same situation. Unfortunately, that would not help the patient that died. For more, read the story.
