I love the idea of bunk beds. They save space, and give kids a fun way to share a room with a sibling or overnight guest. But with an average of 36,000 bunk bed-related injuries reported each year, it’s worth taking a moment to note the potential dangers with this setup.

The most common mishap, of course, is falling out of the top bunk. Kids and young adults alike (a surprising number of people aged 18-21 were among the injured) can sustain cuts, bruises, and fractures, many of the latter requiring hospitalization, from falls and other accidents involving bunk beds.

So what’s a parent to do?

The authors of the study reporting these statistics recommended the following injury prevention strategies:

* using guardrails on both sides of the upper bunk with guardrail gaps being 3.5 inches or less to prevent entrapment and strangulation;
* checking that the mattress foundation is secure and the mattress is of proper size;
* not allowing children under age 6 to sleep in the top bunk;
* using night lights to help children see in a dark room;
* removing hazardous objects from around the bed; and,
* placing bunk beds safely away from ceiling fans or other ceiling fixtures.

Posted by Sunshine.