Hospital Bed Rails - Safety and Types

Are you eager to know all about the hospital bed safety rails? If the answer is yes, then here we have something that can help you out with it.

There are 2.5 million hospital and nursing care facility beds in use in the United States alone. You might be surprised to find that the danger of falling does not diminish once a person is tucked safely into bed.

People of any age might fall out of bed throughout the night when they move or alter their posture. This is highly common in tiny kids, dementia patients, chronic pain patients, feverish, or otherwise ill individuals. Sadly, many of these patient categories are more likely to suffer fall-related severe injuries, such as broken bones, bruising, contusions, and head traumas.

Therefore it is essential to install hospital bed safety rails to offer security and safety. Here in this article, we are going to talk about the same.

Why do Hospital Beds have Bed Rails?

Transferring into bed:

Getting into and out of bed can be difficult for those with mobility issues or physical limitations. When getting on or off their bed, it is typical for elderly or disabled persons to slide or lose their grip. A bed rail provides solid support for persons attempting to stand up or get on and off the bed. The extra support offers stability, direction, and a handy handhold, lowering the danger of falling.

Safety While Sleeping:

Seniors and those who have trouble sleeping may tumble out of bed or leap out of bed while dreaming. Medications that alter brain chemistry exacerbate these issues. Dementia patients are at a much higher risk, as well, of slipping out of bed. A bed rail places a strict cap on how far someone may move, ensuring that they stay secure on the bed even when they try to roll over the side.

Types of Bed Rails

1. Full-length Side Rails

Individuals who are at a more significant risk of falling out of bed or who have a caregiver should use full-length rails. Most full length bed rails need to be dropped down from outside the bed, they are unable to drop the rails down while in bed. These rails will virtually cover the whole length of the mattress. If the individual is functional, the bed rails' foot-end can be reduced, whereas the head-end remains high, allowing patients to get out of bed independently.

2. Half-length Side Rails

A half-length rail is excellent for patients who are unlikely to fall or slide out of bed. These rails are put at the top edge of the bed, assisting a person to sit up or adjusting oneself in bed while also keeping them from shifting too far to one side and slipping out of bed. However, it will not keep a patient from slipping out the bottom end of the bed.

3. Transfer handles

In both home healthcare and hospital beds, a transfer handle is offered. This bed rail will not keep a person from getting out of bed or falling. This rail is intended to provide a sturdy bar for the person to grab while moving into or out of bed. It is not possible to elevate or lower the transfer handles. The grip, on the other hand, may be completely removed for transferring patients.

The Benefits and Risks of Bed Rails

It is necessary to know all about the benefits and risks that come with bed rails.

The benefits of bed rails:

Reduce the danger of individuals falling out of bed.
Helps patients self-adjust themselves inside the bed eaiser.
It creates a sense of safety and comfort.
Moving in and out of bed is easy using bed rails.

The risk associated with bed rails are mentioned as follows:

When bed bars are employed as a constraint, it causes agitated conduct.
It gives a feeling of being trapped and isolated.
When individuals climb over railings, they are more likely to have catastrophic injuries.
It can cause suffocation or strangling when a patient's body is caught between rails.

How to Put Down Side Rails on a Hospital Bed?

Every bed rail will come with its own set of instructions for installation. Most bed rails are linked to the steel bed frame using straps or hooks, whereas others are fitting and entirely covered by the mattress. To protect your family's security and well-being, follow the directions carefully and connect the bed rail securely. If you don't find the instructions helpful, you can take help from a youtube tutorial. However, to lift the full-length rail, grab the top and pull till the plunger clicks into position. To reduce the full-length rail, grab the bed rail, take out the plunger, and reduce the rail gradually.

The Bottom Line

IIf you have trouble turning over in bed or getting out of bed, a bed rail can be pretty valuable. Installing a bed rail is a simple method to improve your bed's utility and comfort while stepping in and out.