Consumer Alert: CPSC issues urgent warning about adult bed rails

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Your consumer alert today takes a look at something that everyone who loves an elderly relative worries about – bedtime. You worry dad will fall out of bed or mom will get up during the night and stumble on her way to the bathroom. That’s why this warning really resonates with caregivers.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued an urgent warning about bed rails manufactured by Bed Handles Incorporated.

Here’s the problem. The company has gone out of business, so the CPSC can’t order a recall. Instead, it’s urging consumers to stop using the bedrails immediately because elderly and disabled people have gotten trapped between the rail and mattress and suffocated or they got stuck in the bed rail itself. The model numbers impacted are AJ1, BA10W and BA11W.

Some of the retailers that sold the products include Walmart.com, medonthego.com and bpimedicalsupply.com. Those caring for an elderly loved one know it is critical that you have products in place to assure home is safe.

Listen. I get it. My dad grinned from ear to ear when I told him I was taking him out of the nursing home and bringing him home to live with us. I had to put dad in a nursing home while I was battling cancer and brought him home with us this year. But I researched safety equipment before bringing him home and dug up a report by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Most of the adult bed rails the commission studied did not comply with voluntary safety standards. In fact, of 35 only two sufficiently prevented entrapment. Only two. And for someone who is physically frail or suffering from dementia, the risk of bedrail entrapment is very real. So I decided for my father, renting a hospital bed would be safer. If you’re researching safety products for your loved one, consult his or her physician. If the doctor recommends a hospital bed, Medicare will usually pay all or part of the cost of renting it.

And that’s your consumer alert.