The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an alert Thursday about safety issues related to beds sold by Northfield-based medical supply company Medline, saying two people have died and 16 have been seriously injured.
The FDA issued an Early Alert warning Thursday about Medline beds and their associated products, citing potential fire hazards. The beds include those for home care, long-term care and for bariatric patients.
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Under certain conditions, the beds’ electrical components may overheat, according to the FDA alert. That overheating can lead to smoke, melting, burning and/or fire. The use of bed accessories may also lead to entrapment or asphyxiation, according to the alert.
The FDA alert followed a notice Medline issued earlier this month saying that it would no longer sell Medline-brand beds.
Medline is offering repairs, replacements and refunds, depending on the product. Medline said earlier this week that customers may continue using the beds until they’re repaired or replaced as long as they unplug the beds from electrical outlets. People can plug the beds in to make adjustments, but then should again unplug them. They also should not use extension cords to power the beds, Medline said.
A Medline spokesperson said in a statement Thursday afternoon that the company continues to invest in enhancing its quality and safety programs and “is committed to delivering high-quality medical and surgical products to healthcare providers across all points of care.”
“We recognize the impact this decision may have on the healthcare system,” the spokesperson said in the statement. “Medline is taking actions to support affected customers and healthcare providers and to help minimize disruption while prioritizing patient safety.”
Medline is a massive medical supply company that went public late last year. Its initial public offering in December raised more than $7 billion — the largest initial public offering of the year.
Medline was owned by the Mills family for decades. As of the end of last year, Medline employed more than 6,000 people in Lake and Cook counties.
Medline’s stock price was down Thursday about 12% since Oct. 15, the day after Medline issued a notice saying it was removing the beds from the market.