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FDA Releases Guidance on Hospital Bed Design to Reduce Patient Entrapment3/2006 Nurses who work in nursing homes and hospitals know that the use of side rails can be dangerous to patients. Between January 1, 1985 and January 1, 2006, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received 691 reports of patients becoming entrapped in hospital beds while receiving care. In these reports, 413 people died, 120 were injured and 158 were near-miss events with no serious injury as a result of intervention. Entrapment can occur when a patient's body becomes caught between parts of the bed and the side rail. In response to these reports, the FDA, in collaboration with other groups, has issued "Hospital Bed System Dimensional and Assessment Guidance to Reduce Entrapment," a document that identifies special issues associated with hospital bed systems. It provides design recommendations for manufacturers of new beds and suggestions for heath care facilities on ways to assess existing beds. The guidance also identifies key body parts (head, neck and chest) at risk of entrapment and locations of the bed openings where entrapment is most likely to occur. The final guidance and supporting documents are available online. |
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