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If your loved one was injured by bed rails in a nursing home, you may be able to sue the nursing home for neglect. Since bed rails are inherently unsafe, especially for residents who are frail, elderly, or suffer from certain conditions, nursing homes should avoid using bed rails whenever possible.
Bed rails, also known as bed side rails, side rails, or safety rails, are often used by nursing homes to help a resident get in and out of bed, or to help a resident change position while in bed. They may also be used to keep a resident from falling out of bed. However, in most cases, the risks associated with using bed rails outweigh the benefits.
The Food and Drug Administration has pointed out the hazards of using bed side rails for the sick or elderly. Among other things, bed rails carry the risk of entrapment, making it difficult for a resident to get out of bed. This may happen when the resident is trapped between the mattress and the bed rail, or when the resident gets caught in the bed rail itself. Certain factors, like mattress size and the amount of space between bed rail bars, contribute to the risk of entrapment. In such a case, the resident may injure him or herself trying to get out of bed.
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To minimize a resident’s risk of injuries, nursing homes should avoid using bed rails whenever possible. If bed rails are necessary, nursing home staff should use them according to standard safety practices, which includes pairing them with the right size of mattress, minimizing the amount of space between bars to reduce the risk of entrapment, and providing residents with assistance getting in and out of bed. If a nursing home resident is injured by bed rails, then the nursing home may be required to compensate him or her for related medical expenses and pain and suffering.
If your loved one was injured by bed rails at a nursing home or assisted living facility, and you are wondering if you have a claim, please feel free to call and speak to one of our experienced Georgia nursing home neglect lawyers today. Our consultations are always free. If you would like more information about this topic, be sure to click on our other videos, or better yet, click the subscribe button to subscribe to our YouTube channel. Thank you.
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