This bed rail has a basic yet proven design that effectively supports elderly and disabled individuals by preventing falls around the bed. Rails set at an angle can help a person who needs a steadying support - e.g. to stand from a bath board to shower. The rail can be placed at an angle of 45 degrees up and away from the user. This keeps the wrist in a neutral position. It is not necessary to lean far forward to grasp the rail at the lower end and the hand can travel up the rail to maintain the support once the person is standing.

Bed rail bumpers, padded accessories or enveloping covers are primarily used to prevent impact injuries, but they can also reduce the potential for limb entrapment when securely affixed to the bed or rail according to the instructions for use. However, bumpers that can move or compress may themselves introduce entrapment risks. Care should be taken that the patient cannot remove these accessories. For example, a young child may not be able to undo attachments, but as the child grows, they may learn to detach them and this increases entrapment risks from the resulting gaps. 7. Maintenance Ongoing use Indirect hazards are also present: cases have been reported where bed occupants have been confused or disoriented and have tried to get out of the bed by climbing over the bed rails. Occupants have then fallen from a greater height than would otherwise be the case, increasing the severity of injury. 3. Risk management and use assessment Risk management BS EN 60601-2-52: 2010+A1:2015 “Particular requirements for the basic safety and essential performance of medical beds”.Fixing to UPVC plastic door frames should be avoided as the frames are unlikely to have the necessary internal materials in the required area to support a grab rail's fixings.

The need for risk assessments to be updated regularly. The frequency of reviewing the risk assessment will vary depending on the patient and their circumstances and should be recorded as part of the risk assessment, but will likely be more frequent for children. Selecting the right bed rail for your or your loved one’s needs can significantly reduce the risk of falls in the bedroom. You should evaluate your personal needs and mattress compatibility requirements and consult your doctor or health care provider for further advice.In all cases it is essential that the selection process follows a risk assessment considering the needs of the bed occupant.

Could the use of a bed rail increase risks to the occupant’s physical or clinical condition (see Case Study 1)? Figure 3 - Example of a community-style bed with full-length integrated bed rails. Bed Grab HandlesBS EN 60601-2-38:1997 Revision 1 “Medical Electrical Equipment – Part 2. Particular requirements for the safety of electrically operated hospital beds”. 9. Adverse Incidents At the MHRA we continue to receive reports of incidents relating to bed rails and associated equipment. These incidents are concerning as some have led to patient harm or death, primarily from entrapment.

Use of bed rails in the community comes with additional challenges. There may be greater variability in available equipment, and it can be more difficult to maintain equipment appropriately than in hospitals. Those responsible for day to day care may be less aware of the serious risk that can be present with improper use of bed rails. Any subsequent changes in the bed occupant’s health and wellbeing (such as cognitive decline, deterioration in eyesight or weight changes) could increase the risk of inappropriate bed rail use.If a manufacturer wishes to market a medical device, the device must bear a mark: currently in Great Britain this can either be a UKCA mark or a CE mark, and in Northern Ireland this is a CE mark. A device may only bear these marks if the manufacturer fulfils certain obligations (conformity assessment). Bed grab handles, which come in a variety of sizes and designs (Figure 4), are not designed to prevent patients falling from their bed. They should not be used as an alternative to bed rails.