Hospital beds can trap patients between the rails and the mattress. Since 1985, more than 400 frail patients have become wedged in beds and died.
Self-defense: Check with the manufacturer to make sure that the bed meets current standards and that the parts fit together snugly. Read the Food and Drug Administration's safety recommendations at www.fda.gov/cdrh/beds, or order the brochure “A Guide to Bed Safety" at 888-463-6332.
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