Statistics on Bed Rail Entrapment and Measures to Mitigate the Risk
It is important to discuss accidents related to hospital beds rail. According to the FDA, about 2.5 million hospital and nursing home beds are currently used in the United States. From 1985 to January 1, 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration received 803 reports of patients caught, trapped, entangled, or strangled in beds with rails. Of these incidents, 480 resulted in patient deaths, 138 resulted in non-fatal injuries, and 185 were prevented by staff intervention. Most patients involved in these incidents were frail, elderly, or confused.