Bed Rails and Bed Safety
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2005-06-13 10:10:17
When Helen got frail and weak, it seemed like a good idea for her daughter to install bed rails on her mother's bed. After all, Helen needed help to safely get out of bed and her daughter couldn't always hear her if she was in another part of the house.
For another family, a nursing home recommended that bed rails be installed on a patient's bed after he fell out of bed. What's the harm? We've all seen them used in hospitals.
Unless used properly, bed rails can be dangerous. The facts:
- Between 1985 and 2005, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration received 606 reports of people caught, trapped, or strangled in beds with rails.
- Of these, 378 died, 116 received a nonfatal injury, and 112 were not injured because caregivers intervened.
- Most of these people were frail, elderly or confused.
How do these deaths, injuries or near miss entrapments happen? People get caught or trapped between or within rails, between bed rails and the mattress, or between the rail and the head or footboard. Some fall when trying to climb over the rails.
But no one is saying never to use bed rails. They have their benefits. They may:
- Help a person turn in bed,
- Provide a handhold for getting out of bed,
- Provide a feeling of security,
- Reduce the risk of falling out of bed when the bed is being moved, and
- Provide easy access to bed controls.
Weighing the pros and cons isn't always easy. The goal is to make the changes that are necessary to meet that person's need for safety. Some ideas:
- Use beds that can be lowered close to the floor.
- Check the person frequently to assist him/her in getting out of bed, if needed.
- Assess the bed for proper mattress and side rail fit and select so there are no gaps wide enough to trap someone. Not all mattresses and rails are compatible and fit with every bed frame. Check with the manufacturer of your bed to identify compatible components.
- Use a mattress with raised foam edges which can provide a sense of boundaries in the bed and may eliminate the need for bed rails. However, this isn ' t a good idea if the person feels restricted in the bed when this type of mattress is used.
- There are a variety of approaches that can be used to reduce the potential for harm in a bed. Examples: side rail protective covers, bed alarms, assist bars, or placing mats next to the bed.
Making these or other changes does not always reduce the risk for harm. All devices must be individually assessed for the affect on the individual's safety and well-being.
Before buying or installing bed rails, talk to your health care planning team. They can help you determine if bed rails are really needed or if alternative solutions can be found.
AARP Resources
There are many simple changes to a home that allow the homeowner to live quite independently.
Additional Resources
A Guide to Bed Safety, Bed Rails in Hospitals, Nursing Homes, and Health Care: The Facts (Adobe Acrobat required)
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), working with many organizations, formed the Hospital Bed Safety Workgroup (HBSW). Its goal is to improve the safety of hospital beds for patients who are most vulnerable to the risk of side rail entrapment.
Bed Rails are Not the Only Choice
The Detroit Free Press discusses alternatives to bed rails.
Kendal Outreach, LLC Catalog (Adobe Acrobat required)
Pages 2-3 of the catalog give descriptions of the bed safety consumer education materials that are sold by this non-profit organization.
US Food and Drug Administration
Report problems with bed rails, medical equipment, or drugs at the FDA's online MedWatch Reporting Program.
Books
Caring for Your Parents: The Complete AARP Guide, Hugh Delehanty, Mary Pipher, Elinor Ginzler, Sterling Publishing Co., Inc, April 2005.
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