Boy Scouts of America

Bunk Beds

SUMMARY

On average, 36,000 injuries related to bunk beds occur in the United States each year, according to Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the American Academy of Pediatrics. The head and neck are most prone to injuries due to falls from bunk beds. Our Scouting family is not immune to this risk.

GENERAL INFORMATION

What can be done to reduce the risk?

  • Use guard rails on both sides of the top bunk. Gaps should be 3.5 inches or smaller to prevent strangulation. Guard rails should extend at least 5 inches above the top of the mattress on the top bunk. 
  • Verify that the foundation of the mattress is strong and that the mattress is the correct size. Are there any weight limitations?
  • Teach children how to safely climb the ladder.
  • Children under age 6—or anyone with a history of sleepwalking or a fear of heights—should sleep on the lowest bed.
  • Roughhousing, bouncing, or playing on the top bunk or ladder is inappropriate.
  • It is preferable to place the bunk beds in the corner of the room away from ceiling fans.
  • Install a night light near the ladder.
  • Ladders need to be securely fastened to the bunk beds.
  • Objects such as belts, scarves, neckerchiefs, or ropes that could cause a hanging need to be stored away from the bed.
  • Take the bunk out of service if the ladder or beds are broken, damaged, or missing.

Many sports and outdoor retailers sell bunk-bed cots, with and without side organizers. However, these cots usually do not have safety rails and even though they aren’t as tall as home or dormitory bunk beds, injuries from falls can still happen.

Here are some safety tips for bunk-bed cots.

  • If possible, install rigid safety rails on the long sides of the top bunk, at least 5 inches above the support rail. Note: This is required if the bottom of the top bunk is more than 30 inches from the floor.
  • Review the manufacturer’s guidelines for weight limits on the top and bottom bunks.
  • Teach all Scouts and adults how to safely get into and out of the top bunk. It is best to do this at the head or foot of the bunk. Never enter or exit the top bunk from the sides.
  • Do not use the cot if the bunks are damaged.
  • Do not enter or exit the bunk-bed cot at night without adequate lighting.

Bunk beds and bunk-bed cots are especially useful in sleeping quarters where the amount of space is limited. However, make sure to follow the above safety practices to help prevent injuries.

RESOURCES

Bray Barnes

Director, Global Security Innovative
Strategies

Bray Barnes is a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, Silver
Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Learning for Life Distinguished
Service Award. He received the Messengers of Peace Hero award from
the royal family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and he’s a life member of
the 101st Airborne Association and Vietnam Veterans Association. Barnes
serves as a senior fellow for the Global Federation of Competitiveness
Councils, a nonpartisan network of corporate CEOs, university presidents, and
national laboratory directors. He has also served as a senior executive for the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, leading the first-responder program
and has two U.S. presidential appointments

David Alexander

Managing Member Calje

David Alexander is a Baden-Powell Fellow, Summit Bechtel Reserve philanthropist, and recipient of the Silver Buffalo and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the founder of Caljet, one of the largest independent motor fuels terminals in the U.S. He has served the Arizona Petroleum Marketers Association, Teen Lifeline, and American Heart Association. A triathlete who has completed hundreds of races, Alexander has also mentored the women’s triathlon team at Arizona State University.

Glenn Adams

President, CEO & Managing Director
Stonetex Oil Corp.

Glenn Adams is a recipient of the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the former president of the National Eagle Scout Association and established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award. He has more than 40 years of experience in the oil, gas, and energy fields, including serving as a president, owner, and CEO. Adams has also received multiple service awards from the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers.