Medical supply company Medline Industries has issued a recall for approximately 1.5 million portable adult bed rails across the United States and Canada. The recall was prompted by two reports of entrapment deaths associated with the products. The affected bed rails are two models of Medline’s “Bed Assist Bars.”
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), users of these bed rails can become trapped within the rail itself or between the rail and the side of the mattress when it is attached to a bed. This poses a serious risk of entrapment and death by asphyxiation.
The CPSC stated that Medline has received two reports of entrapment deaths connected to the recalled Bed Assist Bars in the United States. One incident involved a 76-year-old woman who died in an Iowa senior nursing facility in 2019, while the other incident involved an 87-year-old woman who died at a South Carolina residential care facility in 2023. Additionally, one injury has been reported in the United States.
Health Canada also announced one injury associated with the recalled bed rails in Canada. However, no deaths or incidents have been reported to Medline in Canada as of Monday.
In response to these incidents, Medline emphasized the importance of securely attaching the bed assist bars to the bed and following all warnings and instructions provided. The company urged customers impacted by the recall to participate in the recall process and assured its full support for the CPSC’s commitment to consumer safety.
The recalled Bed Assist Bars were sold by Medline from July 2009 through March 2024 in the United States. They were available for purchase on Medline’s websites and major online retailers such as Amazon and Walmart, with prices ranging from $32 to $64. In Canada, over 5,500 units were sold between February 2013 and March 2024.
Consumers who possess these recalled products are urged to stop using them immediately and contact Medline to request a refund. The recalled bed rails can be identified by the model numbers MDS6800BA and MDS6800BAH. These bed rails were manufactured in China.
This recall serves as a reminder of the importance of product safety and the potential risks that can arise from faulty or improperly used products. It is crucial for consumers to carefully read and follow all instructions provided by manufacturers to ensure their safety and well-being. Manufacturers, in turn, must prioritize thorough testing and quality control to prevent such incidents from occurring in the first place.
