Bunk beds are an excellent way to have added sleeping space while conserving floor space, but they should be utilized with a certain amount of caution. A recent study concluded that nearly 36,000 children and adolescents are treated for bunk bed-related injuries each year. Between 1990 and 2005 about 573,000 kids from infants to age 21 suffered injuries serious enough to require a visit to the ER. Nearly one half of the injuries occurred in children under 6, but there was also a surprising jump in accidents among 18 to 21-year-olds, who had twice the number of incidents as kids ages 14 to 17.

Almost three-fourths of the kids were harmed by falls, with close to 30 percent suffering serious cuts, nearly 25 percent reporting bruises and scrapes and about 20 percent suffering fractures. Worse yet, more than 10 percent experienced concussions. The study showed half of the children suffered injuries to the neck, face or head, and that children younger than 3 years old were about 40 percent more likely to experience head injuries than older children. About 60 percent of the kids injured were boys (not a particularly surprising statistic!)

There are voluntary safety procedures for bunk bed manufacturers which have been put out by both the American Standards of Testing and Materials (ASTM) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission. You need to determine if the bed you are considering meets these standards.

1) Thoroughly inspect and test the frame of the bunk bed for strength. The best test is for someone to climb up on the bed and move around; the bed should easily support an adult’s weight without feeling any movement of the frame or hearing any squeaking sounds. Better yet, make the salesman climb on the top bed to prove its strength.

2) Inspect the whole bed from top to bottom to make sure that there are no potentially hazardous parts sticking out, that there aren’t any sharp edges, and that the entire assembly is smooth. Be sure the bedposts don’t have knobs or finials that can snare clothing and other things.

3) The top bunk must always have rails attached on both sides, even if one side is up against a wall. To prevent a youngster from slipping between the rails or 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 five inches above the top of the mattress to keep the child from falling over it.

4) The space between the mattress and the frame must not be more than three inches anywhere around the bed. If there is a space larger than 3 inches, then you will need to get a different mattress. A youngster who falls into the gap between the bed and the mattress while they are sleeping could be strangled, which unfortunately has happened.

5) Ensure that the ladder is well constructed and well attached to the frame. A secure ladder must be able to hold an adult’s weight with no moving around. Once again, have the salesperson demonstrate the sturdiness of the ladder by standing on it and moving from side to side. The ladder must not slip at all.

6) There have been numerous reported injuries in which the mattress on the top bunk 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 attached to the bed frame with bolts or screws. A floating support system possibly could cause injuries if anything is unfastened and this kind of assembly must be avoided.

7) Occasionally inspect the bunk bed for any loose or missing hardware and replace them immediately. Immediately! During your inspection be sure to check both the horizontal supports holding the upper mattress and the fasteners holding the bed together.

You should never allow a child less than 6 years old to sleep (or play) on the top bed. As pointed out above, one half of the accidents occur to kids under 6.

9) Situate the bed out of reach of ceiling fans and light fixtures (both should be obvious!). Plus you should make sure there is plenty space between the upper bed and the ceiling.

An alternative type of elevated bed you might think about is the loft bed which has an open area where the bottom bed would usually be. This space can be used for a dresser, desk and chair, a TV, or even storage. The safety procedures for bunk beds also pertain to loft beds and the same care should be observed when visiting a furniture dealer. If you acquire either type of bed over the Internet, make sure it complies with the ASTM standards.