Several models of adult bed handles have been recalled after three reported deaths. If the care of an elder or other adult you love requires them to sleep in beds outfitted with handles, take note. Blue Springs, Missouri-based Bed Handles, Inc. and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently issued a voluntary recall of about 113,000 adult portable bed handles sold without recommended safety straps.
Company officials warn that when attached to an adult’s bed without the use of safety retention straps, the recalled handle can shift out of place. This can create a sizeable gap between the bed handle and the side of the mattress, posing a risk of entrapment, strangulation and even death. In fact, the company has received reports of multiple deaths caused by the faulty handles, designed to assist adults with getting in and out of bed by giving them a bar to grip. Three women died after becoming trapped between their mattresses and bad handles. Victims include and elderly woman who died in an Edina, Minn. assisted living facility; a 41-year-old disabled woman who died in a Renton, Wash. adult family home; and an 81-year-old woman who died in a Vancouver, Wash. managed care facility.
The recalled portable bed handles were sold between 1994 and 2007 at home health care stores, drug stores and medical equipment stores, as well as in home and healthcare catalogs for about $100. Affected models are:
- Original Bedside Assistant? (BA10W)
- Travel Handles? (BA11W) sold as a set of two bed handles
- Adjustable Bedside Assistant? (AJ1)
The Original Bedside Assistant and the Travel Handles have a white handle with white poles that go under the mattress. The Adjustable Bedside Assistant is gold in color and has a black cushioned foam handle. Look for the name Bed Handles Inc. and the model number printed on a white label. If you or an adult you love own a recalled bed handle, stop using it and choose a different product, or request a set of safety retention straps. If no injuries have occurred as a result of the faulty handles, you can request a set of safety straps online or by calling Bed Handles Inc. at 800-725-6903. However, if an injury has occurred, understand that you may be due compensation for your losses.
Get medical attention immediately, keep the recalled product intact and contact an experienced product liability and personal injury attorney. Jacksonville’s Harrell and Harrell can be reached at 800-251-1111. ?