It usually takes my dad quite a while to fall asleep after he goes to bed at night. The other night, I thought I heard him coughing a bit, but after a few moments, he quieted down. Just to be sure he was asleep, I peeked into his room. I was horrified to find his body wedged between the mattress and bed rail. He didn’t have the strength to free himself, and because he was gasping for breath, couldn’t even cry out for help. I always thought that the bed rails gave my dad extra safety and security. Sadly, I found that not to be the case. My dad was alright this time, but I was determined not to let it happen again.
The FDA cites that from January 1, 1985 to January 1, 2010, there were:
- 828 reported incidents of patients caught, trapped, entangled, or strangled in hospital beds
- 493 deaths, 141 nonfatal injuries, and 194 cases where staff needed to intervene to prevent injuries
- Most patients were frail, elderly or confused.
In order to reduce and eliminate the risk, the FDA partnered with many excellent organizations to form the Hospital Bed Safety Workgroup.
According to the FDA, beds with rails should be assessed when:
- There is reason to believe that some components are worn (e.g., rails wobble, rails have been damaged, mattresses are softer) and could cause increased spaces within the bed system
- When accessories such as mattress overlays or positioning poles are added or removed
- When components of the bed system (e.g., new bed rails or mattresses) are changed or replaced
A list of bed rail safety guidelines can be found on Page 11 of the document “Clinical Guidance For the Assessment and Implementation of Bed Rails In Hospitals, Long Term Care Facilities, and Home Care Settings,” written by the Hospital Bed Safety Workgroup, in partnership with the FDA.
The FDA’s site is very informative. After looking over its safety guidelines, we were able to fix the bed so the mattress was firmly in place. Now, when my dad sleeps quietly in his bed at night, I can rest easy.
We hope this was helpful. If you have any questions or if you know of a senior who could benefit from our vast array of home care services in Studio City and Sherman Oaks, please call us at 818-988-6848 or email us. We accept most long term care insurance as payment and have a full time staff of trained and certified home care personnel covering the Studio City/Sherman Oaks, California area.
Sourced from: Home Instead Content Library
