Monitor These Guidelines While You Are Looking For Chic Childrens Small Bunk Beds
August 26th, 2010 | 
Author: Conserving space with bunk beds
Bunk beds are an economical way to have extra sleeping space while conserving floor space, but they should be utilized with a measure of caution. A recent study concluded that almost 36,000 adolescents and children are involved in bunk bed-related accidents each year. Between 1990 and 2005 approximately 573,000 kids from infants to age 21 experienced injuries significant enough to require a trip to the ER. Almost one half of the injuries occurred in children under 6, but there also was a surprising jump in injuries among 18 to 21-year-olds, who had twice the number of incidents as adolescents ages 14 to 17. Find more information about bunk beds.
Almost three-quarters of the children were hurt by falls, with approximately 30 percent suffering significant cuts, almost 25 percent reporting scrapes and bruises and about 20 percent suffering broken bones. Worse yet, more than one in ten sustained concussions. The study showed half of the kids suffered trauma to the head, neck or the face, and that children younger than 3 years old were roughly 40 percent more likely to suffer head injuries than older children. About 60 percent of the kids involved in accidents were boys (are we shocked?!) Find more information about soft durable bamboo sheets and queen size comforter sets.
There are voluntary safety procedures for bunk bed manufacturers that have been issued by both the the American Standards of Testing and Materials (ASTM) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission. You need to ascertain whether or not the bed you are considering fulfills these requirements.
1) Thoroughly inspect and test the frame of the bunk bed for durability. The best test is for the parent to climb onto the bed and move back and forth, and side to side; the bed should easily support a parent’s weight without making any noise or feeling any movement of the frame. To be on the safe side, have the salesperson climb on the top bed to demonstrate its strength.
2) Look over the whole bed from top to bottom to make certain that there aren’t any possibly unsafe parts protruding, that there are no sharp edges, and that the entire construction is smooth. Be sure the bedposts do not have knobs or finials that can snag clothing and other objects.
3) The top bunk should always have rails attached on all sides, even if one side is up against a wall. To prevent a youngster from getting stuck between the rails or stuck between the mattress and the bottom rail, no gap should exceed 3 ½ inches, to prevent entrapment and strangulation. The top rail should be a minimum 5 inches above the top of the mattress to keep the child from falling out of bed.
4) The gap between the mattress and the bed frame should not exceed three inches anywhere all around the bed. If there is a gap larger than 3 inches, then you have the wrong-sized mattress. A youngster who falls down between the bed and the mattress while they are sleeping could be strangled, which unfortunately has happened.
5) Make certain that the ladder is well made and secured to the frame of the bed. A secure ladder must have the ability to hold an adult’s weight without moving around. As suggested above, have the salesperson demonstrate the sturdiness of the ladder by getting on it and rocking from side to side. The ladder should not move at all.
6) There have been numerous reported incidents in which the top mattress is moved by a child on the lower bed shoving up on the top mattress supports. The mattress supports for the top bed should be securely fixed to the bed frame with screws or bolts. Unstable supports could cause injuries if anything moves around and this method of construction must be avoided.
7) Every so often check the bunk bed for any loose or missing fasteners and replace them immediately. Immediately! Throughout your inspection be sure to check the horizontal
rails holding the top mattress and the fasteners holding the bed together.
In no way should you allow a child under 6 years old to sleep (or play) on the top bunk. As mentioned above, half of the injuries occur to kids under 6.
9) Set the bed out of reach of ceiling fans and light fixtures (which should be obvious!). Plus, you should make sure there is more than enough room between the top bunk and the ceiling.
An additional type of elevated bed you could consider is the loft bed, which has an open area where the bottom mattress would ordinarily be. This area may be used for a dresser, desk and chair, a TV, or even storage. The safety guidelines for bunk beds also pertain to loft beds and the same care must be taken when visiting a furniture dealer. When you obtain either type of bed over the Internet, make sure it complies with the ASTM standards.
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