CPSC Warns 18 Deaths Linked to Portable Bed Rails Over Past 3 Years

A portable bed rail recall announced last week was at least the 9th CPSC action since 2021, to remove products from the market that contain dangerous design defects.

Following a recall involving more than 200,000 portable bed rails last week, federal regulators have issued an urgent warning regarding serious risks posed by a wide variety of the adult assistance products, which have been linked to an alarming number of severe injuries after individuals became entrapped, including at least 18 deaths.

Portable bed rails are intended to help prevent individuals with physical disabilities or mental limitations from falling out of bed, as well as provide assistance when they are standing or shifting positions while laying down.

They may be used in private homes, as well as assisted living or residential care facilities. However, design defects associated with the bed rails may allow a dangerous gap between the bed rail and mattress. In addition, some products contain openings in which the head or neck may become stuck, posing a serious risk of injury or asphyxiation.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a consumer safety alert on November 14, indicating that the agency has issued at least nine portable bed rail recalls since 2021, impacting more than 3 million products sold in recent years.

According to CPSC data, 92% of deaths associated with portable bed rails have occurred after an individual’s head or neck became trapped between the bed rail and the mattress, leading to suffocation.

The latest portable bed rail recall was issued last week, following the death of a 66-year-old-man at a residential care facility in South Carolina.

As a result of the serious risks posed by these products, the CPSC is urging caretakers to review the agency’s Adult Bed Rails Safety Education Guide, and highlighting a list of recommendations, which include:

• Always make sure that the bed rails an individual is using have not been recalled by the CPSC
• Prevent gaps between the bed rail and the mattress by making sure the bed rail is properly installed with a safety strap that presses firmly against the mattress
• Remain aware of hazardous gaps between the bed rail and its surroundings, which can be done by ensuring there is at least a 12.5 inch gap between the bed rail and headboards or footboards, as well as keeping all furniture away from the bed rail, and only using one rail per bed
• Read and follow all manufacturer warnings and instructions for assembly, installation and use of bed rails, including not climbing on or modifying the rails
• Always consider whether a bed rail is the correct product for the situation

The CPSC is also reminding individuals that the agency took action in January 2023, by issuing new safety standards for adult portable bed rails. These guidelines came in response to CPSC data that indicated there had been 284 entrapment deaths involving adult portable bed rails between January 2003 and December 2021.

“Those taking care of the elderly or individuals with mobility limitations or those with mental challenges shouldn’t have to worry that a critical piece of support equipment they rely on could lead to serious injuries or death,” CPSC Chair Alex Hoehn-Saric said in the consumer safety alert.