What Safety Features Should Every Hospital Bed Manufacturer Build Into Their Beds?

Patient’s recovery does not depend only on medications and medical practitioners. The bed on which the patient will be lying for many hours, maybe even days, is also an important aspect. 

Just one rail coming off its place, or an unlocked castor, and even a hospital bed collapsing because of any pressure, is enough to get the hospital into trouble that even the best of reputation management cannot cover up.

Safety of hospital beds must come first. This blog will introduce you to the key safety aspects of a hospital bed that are indispensable.

1. Strong Side Railings

The purpose of side railings is simple: they prevent a patient from falling off the bed. It may seem obvious, but the disparity between good and poor railings becomes clear very fast in a busy ward.

Good side railings will stay in place without wobbling when a patient uses them for stability. Moreover, good side railings will easily slide down when the medical team needs to lower them for their purposes.

Side railings need to be durable enough to handle the body weight of any leaning patients, particularly elderly ones and those who have recently undergone surgery.

Fittings should ensure that the metal is of thick gauge and is not liable to any injuries because of its sharp edges.

2.                   Locking Castors

The hospital bed moves; it is taken to OT or to the examination room with patients lying on it. But it also needs to stop when needed. It is for this reason that locking castors are essential. If not, it is likely to slip during patient transfer, during examination, or when the patient moves around unexpectedly.

All castors mounted in a hospital bed must lock individually and hold firm on both flat floors and slight inclines, or when placed on an irregular floor. 

An ineffective castor will be more than just another problem for the maintenance staff.

3.                   Weight Capacity Rating 

There is a certain rating for all hospital beds regarding their capacity to hold the weight of patients. Overloading such beds beyond the stated limit can lead to stress in the frame structure and even the eventual collapse of the frame.

Patient weight can vary widely, depending on individual physical characteristics. Hospitals that purchase beds without considering their weight ratings, or buy beds whose weight rating is too low to reduce cost, place themselves at a great risk of accidents.

A professional hospital bed manufacturer will state the maximum weight a bed can carry. This information should be checked before procuring any bed.

4.                   Anti-Collapse Mechanism

Despite being well-designed, beds still require an anti-collapse mechanism as their final defense. This mechanism ensures that the bed’s structure does not fold or collapse in case there is a mechanical malfunction during the process of adjusting positions, especially when adjusting the backrest and the overall height of the bed.

This feature is crucial, especially in an ICU, where a collapsing bed during such an adjustment might harm the patient as well as the nurse treating him/her.

5.                   Smooth Height Adjustments

The ability to change bed height is more important than many people realize. Nursing staff require height adjustment to help transfer patients, carry out procedures on them, and prevent personal injury by avoiding awkward body positions.

Nurses prefer beds that provide smooth and consistent height adjustments because such beds decrease the risk of injury to nursing staff and make the process of patient care faster and more efficient.

6.                   Mattress Retention System

If a mattress moves when the bed is being adjusted, there’s an instant danger of falling. Mattress retention systems, such as side stops or frame lips, are crucial for ensuring the mattress stays in place despite any adjustments to the bed's angle or patient mobility.

This simple yet often overlooked aspect helps avoid numerous accidents in ordinary wards and post-operation recovery rooms.

7.                   Ease of Cleaning Bed Frame

Safety considerations go beyond the mechanical aspects. Complicated joints, exposed welding, and non-smooth surfaces collect bacteria and resist proper cleaning. In hospitals, decontamination procedures are performed regularly.

Thus, the bed frame should facilitate rather than impede this process.

Why Skimping on Hospital Beds is Costly in the Long Run

Hospitals that choose cheaper beds without proper certifications spend more in the long run in repairing, replacing such beds, and damage to their reputation. The initial cost savings disappear immediately the hospital experiences a case of bed failure or patient fall in any unit.

Safe hospital beds help hospitals ensure the safety of patients, minimize injuries among health workers, and reduce operational costs in the process. This should be regarded as a wise hospital management.

About Ankitech Hospital Furniture

Ankitech Hospital Furniture is a renowned hospital bed manufacturer. It is a leading manufacturer that supplies hospitals in India with furniture. Ankitech makes sure all beds are made using CRCA steel, power-coated finish, locking castor wheels, and strong railings.

The company has several types of beds for hospitals, which include ICU beds, semi-Fowler beds, Fowler beds, plain ward beds, and delivery beds.

A hospital that truly cares about its patients should never compromise on bed safety.