National Recall of 220,000 Bedside Accessories Warns of Safety Risk

If you have a loved one who needs a little extra security to rest safely in bed, whether that’s at home or in a skilled nursing facility, you’ll want to be aware of a faulty bed safety device that was sold at national retailers and online.

On Thursday, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) published a recall of 222,000 adult bed rails. “When the recalled bed rails are attached to an adult’s bed, users can become entrapped within the bed rail or between the bed rail and the side of the mattress,” the CPSC announcement states. “This poses a serious entrapment hazard and risk of death by asphyxiation.”

The agency adds that this is the ninth recall that’s been issued since 2021 on this type of device. Altogether, these recalls have affected more than 3,000,000 units and sparked two broader product warnings. It’s reported that to date, 18 deaths have been associated with the recalled products over the four-year period.

The bed rails involved in the latest recall were manufactured by Medical King of Brooklyn, NY, and sold via Amazon.com, Walmart.com, Target Plus, eBay, Kohls.com and medicalkingusa.com between January 2020 and March 2024. This latest recall included the Bed Assist Rail with Adjustable Heights (model numbers 7007 and 7057) and the Bed Assist Rail Without Legs (model number 7037). One death has been linked to this brand’s recall.

Adult portable bed rails are used as a safety device in assisted or residential care settings and private homes to help prevent falls and other injuries. They’re intended to enable better mobility, positioning, and standing support in and around the bed.

However, it’s growing increasingly clear that there are injury risks associated with these accessories. According to CPSC data, 92% of deaths associated with adult portable bed rails are from entrapment, most often of the head or neck. Says CPSC Chair Alex Hoehn-Saric: “Those taking care of the elderly or individuals with mobility limitations or those with mental challenges shouldn’t have to worry that a critical piece of support equipment they rely on could lead to serious injuries or death.” Hoehn-Saric added, “We want to encourage all caregivers—whether in private homes or in institutional settings—to ensure that the adult portable bed rails they use are installed correctly, used properly and have not been previously recalled.”

In January 2023, the CPSC’s Adult Bed Rails Safety Education Center and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released tips for using the products safely. Here are a few they mentioned:

• Make sure that your bed rail is not recalled and that it complies with the mandatory safety standard
• Prevent gaps between bed rail and mattress
  • Make sure that bed rail is pressed firmly against the side of the mattress
  • Make sure that the retention device (ex: strap) is properly installed and secured
• Prevent hazardous gaps between bed rail and surroundings
  • Make sure that there is at least a 12.5” gap between the bed rail and headboard/footboard
  • Keep furniture (nightstands, dressers, etc.) away from bed rail
  • Do not install multiple bed rails next to each other
• Read and follow all the provided warnings and instructions for assembly, installation, and use
  • Make sure the bed rail is compatible with your bed/mattress
  • Do not climb over the bed rail
  • Do not modify the bed rail
• Consider whether adult portable bed rails are an appropriate support for the situation.
  • Carefully monitor those who may be at risk for entrapment, such as those with cognitive impairment.

The FDA adds that if adult portable bed rails are determined to be an unsafe choice, you should consider safer alternatives. This might include “roll guards, foam bumpers, lowering the bed as near to the floor as possible, using concave mattresses that can help reduce rolling off the bed, or a bed trapeze to help reposition while in bed and to get in and out of bed,” they write.

If you believe you have one of the recalled bed rails in your home, immediately stop using it. Consumers who have purchased Medical King bed rails can contact the company for a free repair kit or a replacement bed rail, depending on the model. If you or someone you know has been injured related to the recall, you can report your incident to the agency at www.SaferProducts.gov.

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