FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 3, 2008
	CONTACT: Jackie Hirschhaut (336) 884-5000 X116

Lower the Risk of Bunk Bed Injuries
New Design Requirements Make Bunk Beds Safer Than Ever, But Caution Still Needed

High Point, N.C. – Thanks to new design requirements, bunk beds sold in the United States today are safer than ever – but parents still need to exercise caution to prevent bunk bed-related injuries among children and adolescents, according to the American Home Furnishings Alliance.

Falls are the most common cause of bunk bed-related injuries, according to a study released this week by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The study included data for patients treated in emergency rooms for bunk bed-related injuries from 1990 through 2005. Despite the furniture industry’s warning that children under 6 years of age should not be allowed on an upper bunk, half of all injuries reported in the study were among children under 5 years old.

In 97 percent of all cases reported, the children were treated for their injuries and released. Only 3 percent of the injuries required hospitalization or further observation.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) updated its mandatory requirements for bunk beds in 2000, addressing hazards associated with falls and entrapment. New requirements included guardrails around the entire top bunk (with a 15-inch opening permitted for entering and exiting), specifications for how those guardrails are attached and a limit on mattress thickness (the guardrail must extend at least five inches above the top of the mattress).

In addition, CPSC worked with ASTM International on a new voluntary construction standard for bunk beds that took effect this year.

“This voluntary standard limits the use of a corner post, finial or any other type of ‘vertical protrusion’ in the design of a bunk bed,” states AHFA Vice President Bill Perdue, who served as chairman of the ASTM subcommittee that worked on the standard.

“The restriction was written to reduce the possibility of something a child is wearing or carrying catching on the bed as the child exits the upper bunk,” he explains.

The committee’s work also resulted in new language that is now required for bunk bed warning labels. Beginning in January 2005, the following caution was added to the label:

STRANGULATION HAZARD – Never attach or hang items to any part of the bunk bed that are not designed for use with the bed; for example, but not limited to, hooks, belts and jump ropes.

This warning was added to an existing bunk bed label, which already advised parents to adhere to the following guidelines to help prevent serious or fatal injuries from entrapment or falls:

• Never allow a child under 6 years on an upper bunk.
• Use only a mattress that is 74 to 75 inches long and 37.5 to 38.5 inches wide on the upper bunk.
• Ensure the mattress is at least 5 inches below the upper edge of the guardrails.
• Prohibit horseplay on or under bed(s).
• Prohibit more than one person on the upper bunk.
• Use the ladder for entering and leaving the upper bunk.

Around 4 percent of bunk bed injuries are ladder-related. Another 12 percent result from accidentally hitting some portion of the bed (most often head injuries and most often among 14- to 21-year-olds). Nine percent of the injuries result when youngsters jump off the bed.

“Bunk beds remain a popular choice when furnishing a child’s room,” Perdue points out. “However, when bunk beds – or any other beds in the house – are used for play instead of sleep, accidents can and will occur.”

• Bunk beds are not recommended for children under six years of age. Children under age six should not be permitted to play unattended in a room with a bunk bed.

• The top bunk should have guardrails, with no more than 15 inches open at one end for entering/exiting.

• Rails should be secure and sturdy, and they should extend at least 5 inches above the top surface of the mattress.

• The mattress should be the proper size, as stated by the manufacturer (for example, never use a crib mattress on a twin platform or a twin mattress on a full platform, etc.)

• Always use a sturdy ladder to enter and leave the top bunk. Keep the ladder free of toys, clothes or other obstructions.

• Only one person should be on the top bunk at a time.

• Prohibit horseplay on or under beds.

• Never allow children to attach or hang items to any part of the bunk bed – for example, hooks, belts, jump ropes, etc.

• According to new guidelines published by ASTM International in 2007, bunk beds manufactured after March 2008 may not have any type of “finial” or corner post on the headboard or footboard. This is to help prevent accidental strangulation caused by something the child is wearing or carrying catching on the bed as the child exits the upper bunk.

• Never position a bunk bed under or near a ceiling fan or ceiling light fixture.

• Remember to reinforce safety rules regularly, especially when your child has an overnight guest that may be unfamiliar with bunk bed hazards.