Preventing hospital bed entrapment

In an effort to combat hospital bed entrapment, which has killed 413 patients since 1985, the FDA recently released guidelines to help healthcare organizations create safer sleeping environments for patients.

Elderly patients in hospitals and nursing homes, especially those who are frail, confused, or have uncontrollable body movement, are most vulnerable to entrapments, which have occurred in a variety of patient care settings, including hospitals, nursing homes and long-term care facilities.

The guidelines identify special issues associated with hospital bed systems and suggestions for how healthcare facilities can assess existing beds. They characterize the body parts at risk for entrapment, the locations of hospital bed openings that are potential entrapment areas and the recommended test methods for assessing gaps in hospital bed systems.

“This guidance will assist healthcare facilities in making better informed decisions to ensure a safe sleeping environment,” said Larry Kessler, director of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health. “While not all patients are at risk for entrapment and not all beds pose a risk, this guidance will ensure that entrapment risks with current hospital bed systems are identified.”