Medline Industries, the manufacturer, reported two fatalities linked to their bed assist bars in a recent press release. The incidents involved a 76-year-old woman in an Iowa nursing facility in July 2019 and an 87-year-old woman in a South Carolina residential care facility in November 2023.
As of May 27, no deaths or injuries related to the bed rails have been reported in Canada. However, a consumer product recall was issued in early May and has been updated on the Health Canada website.
The recalled bed rails pose a serious risk of asphyxiation, as users can become trapped between the bed rail and the side of the mattress when the rail is attached to an adult’s bed, according to Medline.
Approximately 1.5 million of these bed rails were sold in the U.S. from July 2009 through March 2024, priced between $32 and $64. In Canada, about 5,522 units were sold. The recalled bed rails were available through Medline’s websites, Medline.com and athome.medline.com, major online retailers such as Amazon and Walmart.com, online pharmacies including CVS.com and Walgreens.com, and various online medical supply stores nationwide like Cascade Healthcare Solutions and Magic Medical. The bed rails were manufactured in China.
Consumers are urged to stop using the recalled bed rails immediately and contact Medline for a full refund. The recalled models are MDS6800BA and MDS6800BAH.
Customers can reach Medline Canada Customer Service at 1-800-268-2848 or via email at canadacs@medline.com for a refund