How to Choose Safety Bed Rails

No matter how harmless safety bed rails seem to be, they can entrap, severely harm and cause death, say representatives at the United State Food and Drug Administration. (See References 1) Safety bed rails, which are rails that prevent people from falling from the bed, can be harmful if they do not fit the bed frame, have broken parts and more. If you choose the wrong safety bed rail, risks of potential entrapment and harm increases. Learn how to choose risk-free safety bed rails to ensure the safety of children, patients and elderly people.

Things You'll Need

• Common bed or hospital bed

Instructions

Safety Bed Rails for Children

1. Choose wooden safety bed rails with solid panel guard rails, which are spaced no more than 2.38 inches apart, to prevent limb entrapment.

2. Examine the safety bed rails to confirm they will be at least 5 inches above the top of the mattress.

3. Secure the safety bed rail to a toddler mattress. Apply 50-pound pressure along the horizontal edge of the safety bed rails. If the safety bed rail breaks, detaches or falls off, it will not be a sufficient barrier for children.

4. Apply 50-pound pressure to the inside of the safety bed rail for 10 seconds. If the safety bed rail breaks, detaches or falls off, do not choose it.

Elderly and Hospital Safety Bed Rails

1. Inspect safety bed rails attached to mattresses for gaps wide enough to entrap the head or body. Make sure gaps are not wider than 2.75 inches.

2. Check with the manufacturer to make sure the bed frames and safety bed rails are compatible when they are purchased separately.

3. Examine spacing of the safety bed rail bars to confirm they are not wider than 4.75 inches apart.

4. Check if the top of the safety bed rails are less than 8.66 inches above the mattresses.

Tips & Warnings

• Summary Bed rails can provide a significant measure of safety and assistance to aging adults. Utilizing the selection guide briefly mentioned above can help you make the right choice the first time when purchasing a safety bed rail.

• Never use a safety bed rail with children younger than 15 months. Always follow the assembly instructions of the safety bed rails. Never place the bed near drapes, cords, blinds, strings or any items that could cause strangulation. Routinely inspect safety bed rails for rust, loosened bolts, breakage and other defects.

References

• United States Food and Drug Administration: Entrapment Hazards With Hospital Bed Side Rails
• Federal Register: Safety Standard for Toddler Beds
• United States Department of Veteran Affairs: Bed Rail Entrapment
• Health and Safety Executive: Bed Rail Risk Management

Resources

• Feinberg School of Medicine: Bed Rail Safety