NORTHFIELD, IL — The Food and Drug Administration is warning that electric hospital beds made by Medline can create a fire hazard after two people died and 16 others were seriously injured. The agency said the beds’ electrical parts may overheat in certain situations, including when motors or other components jam.
Medline, a medical equipment supplier based in Northfield, Illinois, has told customers to stop using the beds and related products unless they have first been modified. The company also said accessories tied to the beds can pose risks of entrapment and asphyxiation, adding to concerns about serious harm.
How the beds can overheat and spark
According to Medline’s safety warning, the beds use electric motors and remote controls so caregivers can adjust a patient’s position. Under certain conditions, those electrical systems can overheat and lead to smoking, melting, burning or fire.
The FDA alert quoted Medline as saying overheating may progress to “smoking, sparking, melting, burning, and/or fire.” Medline said those events can increase the risk of electrical shock and burns, which is why it is urging customers to follow the company’s instructions closely before using the products again.
The concern centers on equipment used in homes and long-term care settings as well as hospital environments. Medline has advised that the beds should not be used as-is while the company works through the safety issue.
Medline tells vendors to stop sales of beds and accessories
Medline is telling vendors to halt sales of its branded beds and related items, including bed rails, mattresses and bed kits. The company said it is ending production of homecare and long-term care beds and accessories and exiting that market altogether.
In an Oct. 24 press release, Medline said it recommended modifications for customers who are still using the beds. That guidance came before the company’s broader move to stop sales and production tied to the affected product line.
The company’s warning underscores how widely the equipment has been used and why sellers are being asked to stop distributing it. Medline’s notice covers more than just the bed frames themselves and extends to supporting parts and accessories.
FDA safety notice follows injuries and deaths tied to the equipment
The FDA said the warning was prompted by the deaths of two people and serious injuries to 16 users. The agency did not say in the alert how the incidents happened, but it tied the hazard to overheating electrical components in the beds.
Medline also said the use of certain accessories can create entrapment and asphyxiation risks, which can result in injury or death. Those warnings make the issue more than a simple equipment malfunction, because the beds are designed to support patients who may already be medically vulnerable.
The combination of fire danger, shock risk and possible physical entrapment is driving the urgent nature of the recall-style notice. The FDA alert is meant to push providers and customers to act quickly and review which Medline products may be affected.
Company says customers may keep using products only under its instructions
Despite the urgent notice, a Medline spokesperson told CBS News that customers can continue using the products if they follow the company’s instructions. The spokesperson also said Medline will provide additional information about affected products in the future.
That position leaves users in a narrow window: the products are not being fully cleared for normal use, but the company says they may be used only in line with its guidance. Customers who still have the beds are being told to pay close attention to any update from Medline.
The company also directed customers to a help line for more information about affected products. Medline customers can call 800-950-0128 and choose option 7.
What the Medline warning means for hospitals, vendors and caregivers
The warning affects more than one type of buyer. Hospitals, homecare users, long-term care facilities and equipment vendors may all need to check whether they have Medline beds or related accessories in use or in inventory.
Because the company says it is exiting the homecare and long-term care bed market, the warning is also likely to affect procurement plans and replacement decisions. Vendors have been told to stop sales, which could limit how quickly facilities can obtain matching parts or replacements.
For caregivers, the immediate concern is patient safety. The FDA’s alert points to a risk of fire, shock, burns, entrapment and asphyxiation, making it important for users to review Medline’s instructions before continuing to use any potentially affected equipment.
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