5 ON YOUR SIDE: Bed rail investigationPortable bed rails are marketed as a simple way to keep loved ones safe, an older parent at risk of falling, or a young child moving into a bed. Over the past two decades, portable bed rails have been linked to hundreds of reported deaths and thousands of injuries. And according to Consumer Reports, unsafe models are still easy to buy. To assess the potential dangers, Consumer Reports bought and tested 10 adult bed rail models and six children’s models, using tests modeled after federal safety requirements. And bed rails should never be used for infants, who should sleep only in a crib or bassinet.