Half Hospital Bed Side Rails are shorter bed safety barriers positioned at the upper half of the bed near the patient's head and torso, providing a repositioning grip point while allowing easier lower-limb exit from the bed compared to full-length rails. They are preferred for patients who need transfer assistance but must be able to exit the bed from the side.

OxyCare delivers and installs half rails alongside hospital beds and can advise on the appropriate rail configuration based on the patient's fall risk and mobility profile.

Operating Instructions

Side Rail Safety Instructions

Entrapment hazards associated with the use of hospital bed side rails occurs in a small, identifiable patient population. Appropriate precautions can reduce incidents.

All reported entrapments occurred in one of the following ways:

• Through the bars of an individual side rail
• Through the space between split side rails
• Between the side rail and mattress
• Between the headboard or footboard, side rail, and mattress

Patients at high risk for entrapment include those with pre-existing conditions such as confusion, restlessness, lack of muscle control, or a combination of these factors.

Recommendations to prevent injuries from entrapment in hospital bed side rails:

• Inspect all hospital bed frames, bed side rails, and mattresses to identify areas of possible entrapment. Alignment of the bed frame, bed side rail, and mattress should leave no gap wide enough to entrap a patient's head or body.
• Check bed side rails for proper installation to ensure a proper fit (ensure proper distance from the headboard and footboard).
• Bed side rail protective barriers may be used to close off open spaces in which patients might accidentally become entrapped.
• Check that side rails present no pinch points or sharp protrusions that may injure the patient.
• Side rails provide a hand-hold for repositioning in the bed and getting in or out of the bed.
• Bed side rails should not be used as a patient protective restraint.

OxyCare Medical Supply Co. 2725 South Belt West, Belleville IL 62226