Hospital beds are specialized medical equipment often used in home environments to support individuals with limited mobility or those recovering from illness. These beds offer multiple adjustable features that greatly enhance patient comfort and safety. Learning how to safely and effectively adjust the bed’s height and position, particularly how to put the bed down, ensures the well-being of both the patient and the caregiver during daily use.
Locating and Understanding the Controls
The ability to control a hospital bed depends entirely on the model, which features either electric or manual adjustment mechanisms. Most modern beds use an electric hand control, often called a pendant, connected to the bed frame by a cord. This pendant has distinct buttons or icons to govern each movable section, frequently using universal symbols like downward arrows to indicate the lowering function.
Manual hospital beds rely on a series of hand cranks, usually located near the foot or headboard, which require physical effort from the caregiver. Identifying the correct crank for the desired movement is necessary before any adjustment begins, as turning the wrong one will move a different section of the bed.
Lowering the Overall Bed Frame Height
Lowering the bed refers primarily to operating the Hi-Lo function, which adjusts the height of the entire sleeping surface relative to the floor. For electric models, this is done by pressing and holding the designated “Bed Down” or “Hi-Lo Down” button on the hand control. The electric motors then smoothly and continuously lower the bed frame until the button is released or the lowest position is reached.
This lowest setting, often called the “low-low” position, is a safety measure designed to minimize the distance of a potential fall. For manual models, the caregiver must locate the specific crank responsible for the overall frame height, which is distinct from the cranks for the head and foot sections. Turning this crank in the designated direction engages the mechanical gears to lower the frame. Achieving a height where the patient’s feet can rest flat on the floor when sitting on the edge is considered the safest position for independent entry and exit.
Adjusting the Head and Foot Sections
The sleeping surface can be lowered and flattened by operating the controls for the head and foot sections. Lowering the head section, or backrest, returns the patient to a flat position, achieved by holding the “Head Down” button on an electric pendant. The head section should be lowered carefully, ensuring the patient is comfortable and clear of moving parts.
The foot section controls, often labeled “Foot Down” or “Knee Down,” flatten the leg rest and the “knee break” area. The knee break is a slight bend used to prevent the patient from sliding down toward the foot of the bed when the head section is raised. For manual beds, separate cranks must be located and turned in the direction indicated to flatten the bed’s contour. Adjusting these sections changes the patient’s posture for comfort or medical reasons.
Essential Safety Checks
Once the bed is lowered to the desired height and the patient’s position is set, several safety procedures must be performed to secure the equipment. The first check is to lock the caster wheels, preventing the bed from rolling or shifting during patient movement or care. This involves engaging the brake levers on at least two of the wheels, which significantly enhances stability.
Caregivers must also check for potential pinch points where moving bed parts could trap limbs or clothing. Power cords should be inspected to ensure they are safely routed away from foot traffic and moving mechanical parts. If side rails are used, verify they are securely locked into the upright position before the patient is left unattended. If the bed is electric, activate the control lockout feature, if available, to prevent accidental adjustments by the patient.