INJURY AND DEATH ASSOCIATED WITH HOSPITAL BED SIDE-RAILS - REPORTS TOUS FOOD-AND-DRUG-ADMINISTRATION FROM 1985 TO 1995

Citation
Jf. Todd et al., INJURY AND DEATH ASSOCIATED WITH HOSPITAL BED SIDE-RAILS - REPORTS TOUS FOOD-AND-DRUG-ADMINISTRATION FROM 1985 TO 1995, American journal of public health, 87(10), 1997, pp. 1675-1677
Citations number
6
Categorie Soggetti
Public, Environmental & Occupation Heath","Public, Environmental & Occupation Heath
ISSN journal
00900036
Volume
87
Issue
10
Year of publication
1997
Pages
1675 - 1677
Database
ISI
SICI code
0090-0036(1997)87:10<1675:IADAWH>2.0.ZU;2-#
Abstract
Objectives. Hospital bed side-rails, while intended for patient protec tion, can contribute to injury and death. Reports to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of hospital bed side-rail entrapment have increa sed. In this paper entrapment cases are reviewed and the population po tentially at risk identified. Methods. FDA's database was searched for events involving hospital beds from January 1985 to August 1995 and e ntrapment cases were identified. Results. Of 111 entrapments, 65% were associated with death and 23% with injury. Conclusions. Advanced age, female sex, low body weight, and cognitive impairment may be associat ed with increased risk. Preventive measures are detailed.