Common Bed Rail Injuries in Nursing Homes
Bed rails in nursing homes are an important safety feature. They help restrain residents so they do not fall out of bed, thereby preventing serious injuries. Unfortunately, bed rails can also cause serious injuries. Most families are not aware of the dangers they can pose. Nursing homes are expected to take certain measures to ensure bed rails provide safety and do not cause harm, but these are not always followed. Below, our Tampa nursing home neglect attorneys explain the most common injuries these safety features cause.
What Dangers Do Bed Rails in Nursing Homes Pose?
Bed rails are typically used for nursing home residents that have a high risk of falling out of bed. These individuals are often those who may try to get out of bed without assistance, or those that need to be transported while in their beds. However, while bed rails are intended to keep nursing home residents safe, they do pose a number of dangers. This is particularly true when residents are not properly monitored and supervised while bed rails are in use.
The most common types of injuries sustained in nursing homes due to bed rails are as follows:
- A resident’s neck can become trapped between the bed rails, resulting in asphyxiation.
- Residents may try to climb over the bed rail, particularly if they suffer from Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. This can result in broken bones and traumatic brain injuries that can be fatal.
- Residents may slide into the gap between the mattress and bed rail, resulting in chest cavity compression or asphyxiation.
- Residents may feel restrained or trapped.
To prevent the above injuries, and any others, it is critical that nursing home staff members take the necessary steps to ensure the safe use of bed rails.
How Should Nursing Homes Prevent Bed Rail Injuries?
Bed rails are particularly dangerous for elderly individuals because there are no regulations regarding their use or construction. To ensure nursing home residents are kept safe, staff members should take a number of precautions. These include:
- Using adjustable beds so heights can make access to the floor easier
- Making sure the beds of residents are kept as close to the floor as possible
- Ensuring the wheels on the bed are in the locked position
- Monitoring residents closely and anticipating when they may want to leave their bed, such as if they need food, water, or to use the restroom
- Lowering one or more parts of the bed rail
- Using appropriately sized mattresses with raised edges to prevent residents from becoming stuck between the mattress and bed rail
- Reducing the amount of space between the mattress and the bed rail
Call Our Nursing Home Neglect Attorneys in Tampa After Injury
If you suspect that your loved one has been injured in a long-term care facility, our Tampa nursing home neglect attorneys at Kohn Law can help. We know the devastating injuries that occur in these facilities and have the necessary experience to help your family obtain the full compensation you are entitled to. Call us now at 813-428-8504 or contact us online to schedule a consultation and to get more information.
