The Dangers of Resident Bed Rails in Nursing Homes—Anatomy of Entrapment (Part 4 of 9)

In 1995, the FDA released a brief report detailing how patients of healthcare facilities can become entrapped.

The report included a labeled diagram to provide an illustration of how a resident might become entrapped.

The numbers in the above diagram correspond to the zones of potential danger.

Reported entrapment’s had the potential to occur in one of the following ways:

1. Through the bars of an individual side rail;
2. Through the space between split side rails;
3. Between the side rail and mattress; or
4. Between the headboard or footboard, side rail and mattress.

All deaths involved entrapment of the head, neck, or chest. Most non-fatal injuries resulted in fractures, cuts, and abrasions to a resident’s arms or legs. The report notes that there was one incident of entrapment involving a two-year old, however almost all deaths and injuries involved elderly patients.

The following blog in this series will discuss proper “guiding principles”, as outlined by the 2006 report developed by the Hospital Bed Safety Workgroup, that safety-conscious healthcare facilities should be aware of.

To learn more, please check out our recent series of blogs discussing The Dangers of Resident Bed Rails in Nursing Homes:

• The Dangers of Resident Bed Rails in Nursing Homes–An Overview: Part 1 of 9
• The Dangers of Resident Bed Rails in Nursing Homes–Rates of Incidence: Part 2 of 9
• The Dangers of Resident Bed Rails in Nursing Homes–Types of Bed Rails: Part 3 of 9
• The Dangers of Resident Bed Rails in Nursing Homes–Guiding Principles Regarding the Safe use of Bed Rails: Part 5 of 9
• The Dangers of Resident Bed Rails in Nursing Homes–Policy Considerations: Part 6 of 9
• The Dangers of Resident Bed Rails in Nursing Homes–Risk Intervention: Part 7 of 9
• The Dangers of Resident Bed Rails in Nursing Homes– Bed Rail Safety Guidelines: Part 8 of 9
• The Dangers of Resident Bed Rails in Nursing Homes–Conclusion: Part 9 of 9

The Kosieradzki • Smith Law Firm represents clients in cases involving catastrophic injury caused by nursing homes and other care facilities that fail to provide proper care, including the improper use of side rails. If you believe your loved one has been harmed because a nursing home and its employees cut corners, take action and contact the Kosieradzki • Smith Law Firm online or call us toll-free at (877) 552-2873 to set up a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.