Could Your Facility's Beds Contribute to Entrapment? Entrapment can happen in the blink of an eye and its consequences can be serious, even fatal. Between 1985 and 2010, the FDA was notified of 828 incidents of individuals becoming caught, trapped, entangled or strangled in hospital beds. Of these incidents, 493 resulted in death, 141 led to nonfatal injuries and 194 required staff to intervene in order to prevent injuries. The majority of the individuals were frail, elderly or confused.1 To help combat entrapment, the FDA and Hospital Bed Safety Workgroup collaborated to draft guidance for healthcare facilities on developing bed safety programs. The guidelines recommend using a multi-faceted approach that includes evaluating bed design, performing clinical assessment and monitoring, meeting the needs of vulnerable residents and seeking input from product manufacturers as well as facility staff.2 Here are some questions to ask yourself when evaluating the beds in your facility for entrapment risk: "Are some components worn?" For example, do rails wobble, have the rails been damaged, is the mattress softer than it should be? These can increase entrapment risk. "Does the bed still have its original parts?" Many beds that are currently in use do not have their original mattresses or bed rails. The risk of entrapment is increased if there are gaps or spaces between the components of the bed system, which can happen when pieces are replaced or removed. "Have I contacted my supplier to see if any entrapment-preventing accessories are available?" These could include mattresses, rails and other accessories. "Is the mattress the correct size for the bed?" Not all beds and mattresses are interchangeable. The FDA has a number of resources available on preventing entrapment at your facility. To view them, click here. References U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Hospital Beds. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Productsand MedicalProcedures/GeneralHospitalDevicesandSupplies/HospitalBeds/default.htm. Accessed October 12, 2011. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Hospital Bed System Dimensional and Assessment Guidance to Reduce Entrapment. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/MedicalDevices/DeviceRegulationandGuidance/GuidanceDocuments/ ucm072729.pdf. Accessed October 12, 2011. In Praise of Prunes Prunes have quite the reputation of being a superfruit when it comes to digestive irregularity – but did you know they can also help prevent osteoporosis and fractures? A study out of Florida State University found that prunes have a positive impact on bone health. The researchers followed two groups of postmenopausal women. Both groups took calcium and vitamin D supplements, but only one group also ate 10 prunes per day. At the end of the study, the group that ate prunes had significantly more bone mineral density in their forearm bones and spine. The researchers believe that the prunes decreased bone breakdown. To learn more, click here. Liberty Total Bed Package A total electric bed for less than $1,000! Build the perfect bed for your facility. After choosing the Liberty bed frame, you'll be able to select your desired color and style of head and footboards to complete the look. The Liberty Bed from Graham-Field provides all of the key features you're looking for at an affordable price point. This easy-to-assemble bed's 360-degree mobility allows it to be moved from room to room at any height and move over thresholds at even its lowest position. Additional Features: 450 lb weight capacity Strong, supportive grid deck offers a "no-sag" mattress support surface Resident-friendly quiet, smooth operation using three DC motors Surface treated with SilverSolutions, an antimicrobial that kills more than 99.9% of odor- and stain-causing bacteria Ideal for use with overbed tables and patient lifts Easy-to-use pendant hand control is shock-resistant, waterproof and durable Four locking casters secure the bed at any height Adjustable brackets allow the bed to be used at both 76" and 80" lengths Built to conform to UL 60601-1 and IEC601-2-38, CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 601 standards 3 year warranty Product pricing is only visible to registered promedsupply.com customers. If you are not yet registered, one of our Customer Care Professionals will be happy to get you set up. Just give us a call at (800) 648-5190.