Adult mobile bed rails – installed on the side of the bed to facilitate movement and reduce the risk of falls – are advertised as a safety device for the elderly or those with medical conditions.
But they can also pose a safety hazard, creating a entrapment hazard that can lead to serious injury or even death. Some companiesas Consumer Product Safety Commission, remembered thousands of units in recent months, citing the risk of asphyxiation and reported deaths.
An independent federal agency is now urging Americans to stop using another brand of adult rail, warning against 10 specific vehicle models after three deaths were reported over a period of time. period from 2006 to 2013.
CPSC warns consumers to stop using 285,000 rails manufactured and sold by two companies: Mobility Transfer Systems Inc. from 1992 to 2021 and Metal Tubing USA Inc. in 2021 and 2022.
These devices are sold by online retailers including Walmart.com, Amazon.com, MTSMedicalSupply.com, VitalityMedical.com and Alimed.com, as well as legacy sites like Ebay.
The agency said at least three people died after being caught in a model of a bed rail, including a 78-year-old woman in an assisted living facility in Michigan, an 85-year-old man in a nursing home in Oklahoma and a 90-year-old. an elderly disabled woman in California.
It says in a statement Thursday.
It said both companies had not agreed to recall the rails or offer a remedy to consumers, adding that they were “assessing possible future action on this matter”. .” NPR has reached out to both companies for comment.
The bed rails in question are made of white or chrome metal tubing and have a label on the handle that shows the name “Motion System” and the model number. The models are:
- Freedom Grip (style 501)
- Freedom Grip Plus (model 502)
- Freedom Grip Travel (Form 505)
- Reversible inclined rail (model 600)
- Handover processing (model 2025)
- Easy adjustment (model 2500)
- 30-inch, single-sided security bed rail (model 5075)
- 30 Inch Security Bed Rail – Extra Height, One Side (model 5075T)
- 30-inch, double-sided security bed rail (model 5085)
- 30 Inch Security Bed Rail – Extra Height, Double Sided (model 5085T)
The agency asks consumers to immediately stop using bed rails, disassemble and dispose of devices, and Report any related issues online.
Adult mobile bed rails linked to hundreds of deaths and injuries
Many portable bed rails can be purchased online without a healthcare provider’s referral, while some are considered medical devices subject to Food Administration supervision. and United States Pharmaceuticals, FDA saidNote that all should be used with caution.
“Adult portable bed rails and hospital bed rails are not for everyone, nor are they for all,” the agency said in a statement. on its website. “Even when portable bed rails and hospital bed rails are properly designed to reduce the risk of entrapment or fall, compatible with beds and mattresses, and used appropriately, they can pose a danger to some people. certain individuals, especially for those with physical limitations or altered mental states, such as dementia or delirium.”
The FDA said it received reports of seven deaths related to portable bed rails between 2005 and 2013. The agency also tracked 901 cases of patients who were “caught, trapped, trapped, entangled or strangled” in hospital beds – including 531 deaths – between 1985 and 2013.
Meanwhile, the CPSC reviewed 260 incidents – including 247 deaths – involving adult portable bed rails between January 2003 and December 2019, according to a 2020 briefing. The majority of incidents involved railway jams, while others involved falls, structural integrity and other issues.
“Analysis by CPSC staff shows that the majority of those who died were reported to be 70 years or older,” it wrote, referring to those who died. “Also, the majority of cases involve victims with underlying medical conditions.”
The commission also estimated that about 196,848 people were injured by movable adult bed rails between 2003 and 2019 – an average of about 11,579 people per year.
FDA encourages those who are reviewing rails to make sure they understand who should use them and what risks are present, and to ensure proper installation and use of the equipment.
There are alternatives to bed rails, like advocacy organization National Consumer Voice shown. Other options include lowering the bed as close to the floor as possible or investing in a height-adjustable bed; put anti-slip pads or cushions next to the bed to prevent falls; and use sturdy vertical posts or bed traps to aid in getting in and out of the bed.
Consumer groups have long campaigned for federal bans or safety standards
There are federal efforts underway to better regulate these products, something consumer advocates have been asking for for years.
Here is a brief history of that process, according to a CPSC document from March of this year.
Back in 2013, the committee received two separate requests (one from the Public Citizen Health Research Group and the other from a coalition of more than 60 consumer organizations) to address hazards posed by handrails. portable bed for adults, which they combine into a single petition.
It voted to postpone action on that petition in 2014 and 2015, while the independent standards organization ASTM is working to develop a voluntary standard for adult bed rails. It announced those standards in August 2017. The following year, the CPSC said it plans to test 35 randomly selected models to determine if they meet the new guidelines.
They reached a grim conclusion in 2020: While the voluntary standard adequately addresses known product hazards, there is “little or no evidence” that manufacturers are complying. uphold that standard.
“Despite employee outreach efforts, several product recalls, and the additional time that allows manufacturers to comply with the voluntary standard, fatal traffic jams continue to occur, as demonstrated by incident data,” it said.
As of this spring, the CPSC has recorded an average of 16 fatal incidents involving adult portable bed rails each year. It says 92% of that involved trapped materials – “which staff have discovered would likely be rejected in compliant products” under the voluntary ASTM standard.
Consequently, CPSC staff recommended that the commission grant the original petition a restraining order or standard.
Commissioner Rich Trumka Jr. announced in mid-March that the agency has formally voted to begin implementing an official federal rule to address the safety hazard posed by adult mobile rails, which, he said, “trapped and strangled older adults.” at an alarming rate.”
“In the period between the petition’s submission and its approval by the Commission, at least 129 people were killed by movable adult bed rails,” added Trumka, calling it “the decision.” right decisions to protect older Americans” and encouraged public health groups to continue to bring issues to the committee’s attention.
