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Bunk Beds Prove Treacherous for Young Kids, Young Adults

According to the Center for Injury Research and Policy, kids younger than 10 and young adults aged 18 to 21 are most prone to injury relating to bunk beds than other segments of the general population.  The center is a part of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

Researchers at the center used data gleaned from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission’s National Electronic Injury Surveillance System to analyze bunk bed-related injuries in the US for the time period beginning in 1990 and continuing through 2005 that were all non-fatal but required emergency room treatment.  The research team estimates as many as 572,580 injuries were sustained during the 16 years of study, generating an average of almost 36,000 cases each year.

Children under the age of 10 accounted for almost 75% of the injuries.  The rate of injury declined in adolescents aged 14 to 17 but the injury rate doubled for young adults aged 18 to 21.  Why the spike in numbers during young adulthood has not been determined but speculation points to the increased use of bunk beds during college, the military, recreational sports facilities, and other institutional settings frequented by young adults.

Bunk bed injuries are most often caused by falls, most often involve male children, and half of the injuries evaluated involved children age 6 or younger.  The most common injuries, in order of frequency, are lacerations, contusions and abrasions, and fractures.  When fractures occur, the patient is nearly six times more likely to be admitted to a hospital.

Body parts most often injured during bunk bed accidents are the head, neck, and face.  The smallest children have a center of gravity higher on their body than adults and are more likely to fall head first.  Of children age 3 and under, head injuries are 40% more likely than in older children.

Bed malfunction is a more common cause of injury to older, larger children.

The research team recommends proper use of bunk beds to minimize the risk of injury to children of all ages.  Some recommendations:

• Use guardrails on both sides of the upper level.
• Make sure gaps in guardrails are less than 3.5 inches to minimize the risk of strangulation and entrapment.
• Use only mattresses that fit the bed over a secure foundation.
• Restrict children 6 years or younger to the bottom bunk only.
• Do not allow children to play on bunk beds.
• Keep night lights on so the ladder to the top bunk is visible throughout the night.
• Keep the area around the bed free from clutter and other hazards, including ceiling fans and fixtures.
• Never make alterations to the bunk bed that might affect the manufacturer’s safety features.

Source: Nationwide Children’s Hospital

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