Information gathered by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) indicates that 155 people died from bed rail injuries from January 2003 – September 2012. The CPSC further broke down the data as follows:
- Approximately 126 of the 155 people who died were age 60 or older, according to the findings.
- While the majority of fatal bed rail accidents occurred in private homes, a substantial percentage occurred in nursing home or assisted living homes. Specifically, about 25% of bed rail deaths occurred in nursing home or assisted living facilities.
- Nearly half of the people who died in bed rail accidents had medical conditions.
- Most of the deaths occurred when a person got stuck in the bed rails and often it was the person’s head or neck that got stuck.
Additionally, the review indicates that about 37,000 people were treated in United States emergency rooms for bed rail injuries from 2003 – 2011. Data for 2012 is not yet available.
It is alleged that these reported numbers are significantly lower than the actual number of people who died and the people who were injured because nursing homes are not required to list bed rails as a cause of death and emergency room doctors are not required to list bed rails as a cause of injury.
Our Louisville nursing home abuse lawyers extend our best wishes for a full and quick recovery to everyone who has been hurt in bed rail accidents, and our sincere condolences to the loved ones of those who have been killed in such accidents.
Has Your Loved One Been Injured In A Nursing Home?
If you believe your loved one is being subjected to nursing home abuse you need to speak with an experienced Kentucky nursing home neglect attorney as soon as possible. Contact us online or call our office directly at 888.450.4456 to schedule a free consultation.