Federal regulators are warning patients and caregivers to immediately unplug Medline-brand electric homecare beds after the company moved to pull every one of its branded bed models from use nationwide, following reports tying electrical and entrapment failures to at least two deaths.

The FDA classified the underlying defect its most serious recall category, warning the devices "may cause serious injury or death" if used without following corrected instructions. According to the agency's recall record, Medline has reported 12 injuries and one death tied to an electrical fault in the beds' hand-control pendants, which can overheat, spark, melt or catch fire, and two injuries and one death tied to a separate entrapment risk involving non-Medline-approved accessories such as side rails.

The warnings escalated sharply this month. In an urgent field safety notice dated Oct. 14, Medline told users and health care facilities to immediately unplug all affected beds and disconnect any battery packs, and to stop using electrical bed functions altogether — not just the specific Basic and Medlite models originally named in the FDA's earlier correction. The company is voluntarily removing and discontinuing every Medline-brand homecare, bariatric and long-term-care bed, along with the related hand controls, accessories and replacement parts.

MAY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Beds and mattresses can reportedly still be used manually — raised, lowered or adjusted by hand rather than through the electrical controls — while replacements are arranged, according to reporting on the expanded action. Medline has set up dedicated phone lines for affected customers and said replacement labels will be mailed automatically; anyone who hasn't received one by Nov. 30 is advised to call the company directly.

The beds are widely used in home health care and long-term-care settings for patients who need adjustable positioning, making the fire and entrapment risks especially acute for people with limited mobility who may not be able to quickly move away from a malfunctioning unit. Regulators have not said how many beds are affected nationwide, though Medline is a major supplier to hospitals, nursing homes and home health agencies across the country.

What's next: Medline says it is working with the FDA on the full phase-out and replacement process; patients or caregivers with an affected bed are advised to stop using its electrical functions immediately and contact Medline for next steps.