Important Waterbed Safety Tips
57589
Home & Family
Nov 29, 2007
otaffy
Important Waterbed Safety Tips
Many people enjoy the comfort and warmth of a quality waterbed. Since the early days of a simple water-filled bladder surrounded by a wooden frame, waterbed technology has developed making modern beds more comfortable, more efficient and safer. Now the word safer may imply that waterbeds were unsafe. With millions of waterbeds sold and in service, relatively few problems have been reported and certainly no more than with traditional flatbeds. In the early days of waterbeds, there was a wildly mistaken notion that the weight of waterbed would be enough to have it come crashing through the floor of the average home or apartment. The fact that this perception developed at all is interesting since to this very day, there has not been one documented case of a waterbed falling through the floor of a properly constructed residential floor. Even a leaky mattress would not lead to catastrophic failure or flooding of the bedroom. There is not a science associated with waterbed safety and common sense rules the day. Given the design, and construction of the average waterbed, there are certain things that should be absolutely avoided. Never, under any circumstances allow a baby to sleep in a waterbed, with or without an adult. Bed-sharing with an adult is a common cause of death and injury among infant children. This advice is almost universal in the medical community and is based on several, very important concerns. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS is considered by medical experts to be the leading cause of death from infancy through 1 year of age. SIDS affects infants most often between the age of 4 and 6 months when the infant is most able to roll over. A crib with a firm mattress is recommended and blankets, pillows and other bedding items should not be placed near the baby. If placed on a waterbed, the baby could roll over and find its face against the water mattress, unable to get enough air, which could lead to suffocation. Never allow children or anyone else for that matter, to jump on the waterbed. All sorts of trouble can arise from that, not the least of which is the potential of injury from falls. Damage to the waterbed is likely from damage to the mattress to structural failure of the frame. Never bring sharp objects like scissors and knives to bed for obvious reasons. A sharp object or tool can puncture the mattress and render it unusable and beyond economical repair. The same advice goes for smoking in bed, any bed not only because of the risk of damage but the risk of fire and serious personal injury. Never setup your waterbed without a sturdy vinyl safety liner. In the event of a leak, the liner is capable of retaining all of the water in the mattress inside the confines of the frame. Always make sure that the frame is assembled properly and inspect the frame for structural integrity once a year. If you suspect the frame is failing, immediately drain the bed and make necessary repairs. Always inspect the visible cables, plugs and control of the electric heating system every six months or whenever you add conditioner. If you drain the bed for any reason, that provides a good opportunity to inspect the heater and the mattress. Look for worn spots check the mattress for areas where the vinyl is stiff and not pliable. Always replace the mattress if you suspect it has been damaged or the water has been allowed to develop a growth of algae. So be mindful of the unique challenges of owning a waterbed and you can enjoy a good sound sleep.
Mitch Endick is a short article writer for the popular good sleep site: http://www.WaterbedAuthority.com. He provides informative advice on waterbeds, waterbed mattresses, waterbed accessories and good sleep habits.
send email to otaffy
Write a Review
Add to My Favorite
Refer it to Friend
Report Article
Other links at Home & Family
Improving your home can be a good thing, but it can also put a hurting on your wallet. Most home improvement projects can cost a lot of money. Most people need to make some home improvements but really cannot afford it.
Category:
Being a teenager is a troubling time. While adjusting to all the changes going on both in your biology and your responsibilities, making the right decisions can be hard when it comes to topics such as relationships.
Category:
Have you ever wondered what makes natural sandstone? Here are some history lessons that may help you.
Category:
It is time for a new house. Perhaps you have out grown your old one or are just looking for a change. So, you go shopping and don`t find anything that is the total package for you and your family. What to do now? How about build one? The first things you
Category:
Site Sponsor
Directory Statistics
Articles: 68252
Categories: 501
Yahoo Entertainment
