Endurance® Hand Bed Rails
CPSC Recall #24-179 — April 4, 2024
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 24-179 |
| Recall Date | April 4, 2024 |
| Remedy Type | — |
| Units Affected | About 272,000 |
Where It Was Sold
| Essential Medical Supply Inc. sold about 272 |
| 000 units of the bed rails at medical supply stores nationwide and online at www.amazon.com and www.walmart.com. The bed rails were sold from October 2006 through December 2021 for between $36 and $98. |
Product
Endurance® Hand Bed Rails
Description
Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Essential Medical Supply Inc., of Orlando, Florida, are reannouncing the recall of four models of the company’s Endurance Hand Bed Rails. This recall involves the Hand Bed Rail (model P1410), Hand Bed Rail with Pouch (model P1410-P), Hand Bed Rail with Floor Support (model P1411), and Hand Bed Rail with Floor Support with Pouch (model P1411-P). They were originally recalled in December 2021.Since that recall was announced, two additional entrapment deaths have been reported. In December 2022, an 86-year-old man died at an assisted living facility in Connecticut, and in August 2023, a 99-year-old man died at his home in California. CPSC previously announced the recall on December 22, 2021, following the entrapment death of an 86-year-old man in California. He died at his home in December 2012, reportedly from the Endurance Hand Bed Rail (model P1410).When attached to an adult’s bed, users can become entrapped within the bed rail or between the rail and the side of the mattress. This poses a serious entrapment hazard and risk of death by asphyxiation.CPSC and Essential Medical Supply Inc. urge consumers to stop using the recalled bed rails immediately and to check their homes and the homes and assisted living facilities of loved ones for the recalled bed rails.Essential Medical Supply Inc. sold about 272,000 units of the bed rails at medical supply stores nationwide and online at www.amazon.com and www.walmart.com. The bed rails were sold from October 2006 through December 2021 for between $36 and $98. The name “Essential Medical Supply, Inc.” and the model number are printed on a label located on the grip handle of the bed rails. The rails are made of either chrome or white metal tubing and include black padding on the grip handle and under-bed frame. They measure approximately 17 inches to 21 inches high by 20 inches wide. Only bed rails that do not have model numbers ending in “R” are included in this recall.Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled bed rails, disassemble and dispose of them to prevent reuse. Essential Medical Supply has ceased operations and is no longer offering a remedy to consumers.CPSC urges consumers to report any related incidents to the agency at www.SaferProducts.gov.
Hazard
When attached to an adult’s bed, users can become entrapped within the bed rail or between the rail and the side of the mattress. This poses a serious entrapment hazard and risk of death by asphyxiation.
Incidents & Injuries
CPSC previously announced the recall on December 22, 2021, following the entrapment death of an 86-year-old man in California. He died at his home in December 2012, reportedly from the Endurance Hand Bed Rail (model P1410). Since that recall was announced, two additional entrapment deaths have been reported. In December 2022, an 86-year-old man died at an assisted living facility in Connecticut, and in August 2023, a 99-year-old man died at his home in California.
Remedy Instructions
CPSC urges consumers to dispose of the recalled bed rails and NOT resell or donate them. It is a violation of federal law to sell or distribute recalled products. The firm is no longer in business, so there is no remedy for consumers.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a remedy at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (refund, replacement, or repair) at no cost to you.
Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product — whether recalled or not — you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.
In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.
If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.