Safe use of Bed Rails in Community | Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

This leaflet has been produced to give you general information about your safe use of bed rails. Most of your questions should be answered by this leaflet. It is not intended to replace the discussion between you and your health professional but may act as a starting point for discussion. If after reading it you have any concerns or require further explanation, please discuss this with a member of the healthcare team caring for you.

What is safe use of bed rails?

A health or social care worker has carried out a risk assessment and has recommended that this equipment is safe and helpful for you. These bed rails must only be used by the person they were given to.

If you or your carer are not happy about you having a bed rail, then you must speak to your health or care worker straight away.

The bed rail is there to stop you from falling, slipping or rolling out of bed. You have been given this to help keep you safe whilst you are in bed.

Please ask someone if you need help to get out of bed.

Bed rails should never be used to restrain somebody

The bed rail may move slightly or become loose while you are using your bed. Your limbs can get trapped if the bed rail becomes loose and so there are some basic checks that you need to do to remain safe. These are listed in this leaflet and in the bed/rail instruction manual.

DO NOT climb over the top of the bed rail or try to fit through the gaps at the ends whilst the rails are up. Call for help if you need to get out of the bed.

If your health condition changes after you are given the bed rails or you have:

Uncontrolled body movements
Changes in sleep patterns
Weight changes
Body shape changes

Please tell your Health care worker.

The bedrail and bed will have been set up by a trained person. You should never try to remove the bed rails or any part of the bed.

The bed and bed rails have an annual service by somebody who has been trained to do this.

In order to make sure the bed rail is in good working order, you or your carer should carry out some basic checks. The user manual will tell you how often to do these.

Check the rails are not bent or broken
Check there are no loose fixings or brackets
Check the plastic sockets on the clamps are not loose
Check there are no sharp edges or flaking paint/ finishes
Make sure there are no risks of becoming trapped in the bed rails

All parts of the bed rails, and bumpers if used, can be cleaned with warm, soapy water using a cloth and then rinsing. It is important not to let water run inside the bed rail bars through the holes.

If you find that there is a problem with the bed rail, or it breaks you must telephone the equipment service who loaned you the equipment straight away. The telephone number is on a sticker that is attached to the bed.

Can there be any complications or risks?

If someone who uses the bed rails becomes confused or tries to climb over them, you must tell their health care worker straight away.

If you or your Carer feel your needs have changed, you should discuss this with your health or social care worker so they can review the risk assessment and make any necessary changes or provide further advice

How do I prepare for the safe use of bed rails?

Please read the information leaflet. Share the information it contains with your family (if you wish) so that they can be of help and support. There may be information they need to know, especially if they are taking care of you following this examination.

This leaflet was produced by the Occupational Therapy Department Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, in conjunction with the ICB.