Bunk bed danger for kids

Could your child’s bed be harmful?

Bunk bed-related injuries are on the rise according to a new study carried out by the Center for Injury Research and Policy of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. The study, published in the June issue of Pediatrics, found that boys under the age of 10 are especially at risk.

There were an estimated 572,580 bunk bed-related injuries during the 16-year study period, resulting in an average of nearly 36,000 cases annually. “The high rates of injury found in our study suggest the need for increased prevention efforts to lower the risk of bunk bed-related injury, especially among young children and young adults,” says study co-author Gary Smith, MD, DrPH, director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and an associate professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine.

Bunk bed-related injuries occur most frequently in boys, and half of the cases analyzed involved children under the age of 6. Injuries most commonly result from falls and the most common results are lacerations, contusions/abrasions and fractures. Head and neck injuries were most common, particularly among smaller children who tend to fall head first – children under 3 were 40% more likely to sustain head injuries than older children. Older children were more likely to be injured due to bed malfunction than younger children, perhaps due to their larger size and increased weight.

Follow these tips to help prevent bunk bed injuries…

• Position guardrails on both sides of the upper bunk, with guardrail gaps being 3.5 inches or less to prevent entrapment and strangulation.
• Ensure the mattress foundation is secure and the proper size mattress is used.
• Set an age limit Don’t allow children under 6 to sleep in the upper bunk.
• Keep it for sleeping Discourage children from playing on bunk beds.
• Use nightlights to help children see the ladder at night.
• Remove hazardous objects from around the bed and don’t position it too close to ceiling fans or other ceiling fixtures.
• Avoid modifying the bunk beds in any way, as this could negate safety standards.

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