The Safest Bed Rails

Toddlers

• Toddler bed rails are useful when children are transitioning from the crib to their first "big bed." These rails allay kids' and parents' concerns about falling out out of bed in the middle of the night. The safest rail will have no room between itself and the mattress. A double-sided drop down bed rail is the most effective option when the bed cannot be pushed against the wall.

Children

• Children and teens often sleep in bunk beds. Bed rails are a requirement for the top bunk and these beds usually have such rails included in construction. The safest types of rails will allow for adjustment as children grow. Beds with rails that are removable and adjustable are safer as long as they can be secured. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission requires that guard rails be secured only with fasteners that have to be released separately.

Patients

• Safe rails are an essential part of every hospital bed. Patients must be able to lie securely and feel comfortable while having access to bed controls. The best rails have handles that facilitate turning and re-positioning. Hospitals must address the potential dangers of rails in hospital beds such as self entrapment or strangulation. Standards dictate that individual needs be taken into account. For example, recuperating patients who are mobile may only need partial rails which they can move around to get in and out of the bed. Incapacitated patients requiring around the clock care need rails that extend most of the length of the bed to avoid accidental injuries.

Elderly

• Elderly people, especially those in failing health, need bed rails that will prevent self injury. Hip fractures are a major concern as they can worsen any existing debilitating conditions. The safest bed rails will allow the elderly and caretakers to maneuver the bed easily but will provide enough restraint to avoid falling during transport or when trying to get out of bed unassisted.