Prevent Injury by Knowing the 8 Rules of Bunk Bed Safety

To prevent injuries when using bunk beds, don’t allow little children to use a bunk bed, permit only one person to use the top bunk, don’t allow any items to be hung on the bed, reiterate your safety rules to guests, make sure there are guardrails on the upper bunk, ensure the guardrails can keep the mattress in place, get a mattress that is the right size for the bunks, and make sure the ladder is sturdy.

Bunk beds should be a consideration for any bedroom that lacks adequate floor space. If you do not follow safety measures, people could be hurt using this sort of bed. If you or your children use bunk beds, you should think about the safety tips that follow in order to reduce the probability of bed-related injuries.

Bunk beds are not appropriate for younger kids

Bunk beds should not be used by any child under the age of six. If you have a set in one room of the house, don’t leave children unattended in that room, as they may climb up or play on the bunks. Falling accidents are the main cause of bunk-bed related injuries, and the under five year old set accounts for half of them.

The top bunk should not be used by more than one person at a time

One person should only sleep on the upper bunk unless of course the upper bunk is a double bed. Single bunks cannot support the weight of two person, so do not risk the collapse of the upper bunk.

Items should not be hung anywhere on the bed

To reduce the risk of strangulation, warn your child against hanging items, such as belts, toys, or jump ropes, to the bunk bed. Firmly instruct your kids to put everything in its place, and don’t hang those on the bed, at all.

When having guests, remember to repeat your safety rules

Be firm about your rules for safety with bunk beds in your home. If you’re holding a sleepover for your kids, be sure to set rules, explain them to your children, and stress that they should be followed at all times.

Be certain about the presence of guardrails on the top bunk

By design, the top bunk of the bed can pose a potentially dangerous situation for children. Ensure that top bunk is provided with protective guardrails for safety purpose to avoid accidental fall. The gap in the guardrails for positioning the ladder should be no more than 15 inches wide.

Make sure the guardrails can keep the mattress in place

Be sure the guardrails are sturdy enough to keep the mattress firmly in place, and that they are higher than five inches from its surface.

Get a mattress that is the right size for the bunks

One of the basic guidelines you should always follow is to only use a mattress that is made for that size of bunk bed. Don’t use a mattress that is too small because it could easily move out of place. Conversely, the guardrails on the bed won’t be able to hold up a mattress that’s too large.

A sturdy ladder is a must!

The ladder should not be obstructed with clothes, toys and other items and should be sturdy enough to support the weight of your child.

As long as the owners of bunk beds are responsible for the way it’s used, bunk beds are a rather effective solution to save space.

Author Bio: For more information on bunk beds you can visit http://www.bunkbedsnow.com.

Category: Home Management
Keywords: bunk beds

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