While many may come with them already installed, some hospital beds require that they be purchased and attached separately. Three primary types of hospital beds can have rails. To avoid this, users may want to purchase bed rail bumper pads. Doing so can lead to scratches, blunt force injuries, bruises, and, in the worst-case scenarios, broken bones. Beware of the Hard Surfaceīed rails are made of hard surface materials, and users should not bear all of their weight on them or hit them. From dementia and Alzheimer’s all the way to reduced balance due to medications and motor skill loss, personal disability and impairment should always be evaluated to determine a particular user’s risk level. Seniors are at the highest risk for falls due to their lack of mobility and balance. Users must never try climbing over the rails or leaning over them completely, since this can cause serious injury, and even prove fatal in some cases. Bed rails should never be utilized by anyone who may be the type to try to sneak through the rails. Therefore, whether or not bed rails will be positively effective depends on personal physical and psychological assessment. Doing so may result in serious injury, strangulation, suffocation, and even death if a user gets caught in between the rails and their hospital bed mattress. Never try hanging on the rails, or trying to squeeze your body through them. Many of the accidents and injuries that occur with bed rails arise from instances of users not being aware of the standard guidelines for use, which are listed below: Don’t Hang or Climb Through Rails Safety Tips for UsersĮlderly people and those with mobility issues, mental issues, and physical impairments need to know some basic rules of “what not to do” if they are using a hospital bed with rails. Actually, these beds are often referred to a user by a licensed physician – and should always be. Therefore, if a user does not absolutely need the extra stability, security, or convenience features that a bed with rails can provide, there is no reason to invest in such a hospital bed. One must not forget that hospital beds that have handrails on them are still medical devices. The user can hang their bed controls or personal belongings over the rails of the hospital bed to allow easy access.Bed rails also help some patients achieve additional mobility and stability during transfers and transports to aids such as a transport wheelchair, walker, or rollator.They help many patients or users (and their caregivers) feel more secure and add a level of comfort to their beds.They allow for easier transfers for both the patient and/or the caregiver.Hospital beds that have rails can help patients turn and reposition more safely.According to the FDA, people should be carefully monitored and assessed to ensure that they need a bed with rails, but despite any dangers (which are almost always related to user error) of bed rails, there are many more benefits. There are numerous reasons why a medical bed with rails is the preferred choice of many patients.

Twin bed with rails