Medline recalls 1.5 million adult bed rails following 2 reports of entrapment deaths

Recall of Medline Adult Bed Rails

Massive Recall Due to Safety Concerns
Medline Industries is recalling approximately 1.5 million portable adult bed rails in the U.S. and Canada after two reports of deaths caused by entrapment.

Specific Models Affected
The recall affects two models of Medline’s “Bed Assist Bars,” identified by model numbers MDS6800BA and MDS6800BAH.

Serious Risks Involved
The bed rails pose a significant entrapment hazard, with risks of death by asphyxiation if a user becomes trapped between the rail and mattress.

Instructions for Consumers
Consumers are urged to immediately stop using the affected products and contact Medline for a refund.

The reported causes of entrapment that led to the deaths associated with Medline's Bed Assist Bars involve users becoming trapped either within the bed rail itself or between the bed rail and the mattress when the rail is attached to a bed23. This entrapment scenario poses a significant hazard, specifically the risk of death by asphyxiation. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the entrapment typically occurred because the bed rails were not securely attached to the bed, leading to a dangerous gap where users could become stuck. This has resulted in at least two reported fatalities—a 76-year-old woman in Iowa and an 87-year-old woman in South Carolina—prompting the recall of the product.