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Created by Guest
Created on May 29, 2025

Update Keeping safe in bed (bed rail assessment)

Recently, we received a safety alert regarding the risk of entrapment alongside the use of bedrails. " There are two international standards for medical beds which include requirements for acceptable gaps in order to reduce entrapment risks. BS EN 60601-2-52:2010+A1:2015 is the standard for adult beds, and there is a separate standard, BS EN 50637:2017, for medical beds and cots for children and adults with atypical anatomy (in other words physical size less than 146 cm, mass less than 40kg or a body mass index of less than 17), as physically smaller patients can get trapped in smaller gaps."


In line with this, we would like to add a criteria/ question in Keeping safe in bed (bed rail assessment) for staff to check if the resident requires a specific medical bed or adjustment if they are:

> Physical size less than 146cm

> Mass less than 40kg

> BMI less than 17


And if the answer to the questions above is yes, staff must take note of the action provided to manage potential entrapment risks.

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