Adjustable bed motor catches fire, Yokohama
Monday, December 31st, 2007Elderly woman dies in bed fire
YOKOHAMA–A bedridden elderly woman died Saturday after her motorized nursing care bed burst into flames, severely burning the lower half of her body at her house in Isogo Ward, Yokohama.
xxxx xxxxxx, 83, was taken to a hospital after a male neighbor heard her screaming and called the police. The neighbor rescued her, but she died about 12 hours after arriving at the hospital.
According to officers at Isogo Police Station, the bed xxxxxx used was on the first floor of her house, where she lived alone, and caught fire at about 5 a.m. Saturday.
The part of the bed nearest the motor close to xxxxxx’s feet was burned and the mattress was charred, the officers said.
The police believe the fire was caused by a malfunction of the bed’s motor.
The bed’s motor is used to raise a person into a sitting position.
According to neighbors, about five or six years ago, xxxxxx returned to her home from an elderly care facility in the city. Being immobile, she had used the bed since she moved back and was assisted by a visiting caregiver almost daily.
According to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, this is the first time there has been a report of a motorized nursing care bed catching fire.
The Web site of the maker of xxxxx’s bed states there is device in the motor to prevent it from overheating.
An employee of a company selling nursing care products said this was the first time he had heard of a motorized bed catching fire.
“Such beds go through strict inspections. It is very serious if the bed caused this fire,” he said.
Not the first adjustable bed motor I’ve seen catch on fire.