Author: Ellis Raskin
College is probably the only time in life when you will be living so close to so many people. Space is always an issue when living in Residence Halls, and students are notorious for devising ever more ingenious ways to free up floor space. One of the most common tactics in the war for floor space is to loft your bed. Creating a skyscraper of sorts, putting your desk and dresser under a lofted bed allows you to utilize twice as much floor space, with the simple risk of sleeping miles above the ground.
For all of us who have seen a lofted bed, the thought of falling out has crossed our minds at least once. This terrifying possibility became a reality for me this last week; as I was climbing down from a bed, my hand slipped, and I fell six feet onto my back. Every single student I talked to can tell you a story about themselves, or a person they know who has fallen out of a lofted bed. Fortunately, the majority of falls result in only the most minor of injuries.
Sarah Wozniak (sophomore) vividly remembers her experiences falling out of her lofted bed. “Before my bed was lofted, I would just roll out of bed in the morning and stand up,” said Wozniak. “Right after I got my bed lofted, I rolled out of bed when I woke up – just as I usually do – but instead fell onto the floor.”
Jennifer Fox (sophomore), Wozniak’s roommate at the time, recalls witnessing those frightening moments. She said, “It was really scary! She just rolled out of bed, but then I just started laughing when I realized she was okay.”
Most of falls from lofted beds occur from accidents related to climbing into or out of lofted beds – you certainly don’t hear of anyone falling out of an un-lofted bed. Furthermore, if you wake up in the middle of the dark night to get a drink of water, your climbing skills aren’t likely to be incredible. And what about students who engage in other activities that impair judgment? It seems certain that at least some people will fall off their beds at some point during the year.
So are lofted beds ultimately worth the risk? There are definite pros and cons on both side of the argument, and the risks involved are obvious and evident for those who do get their beds lofted. All I am saying is that you should carefully consider the risks involved in lofting a bed before you make the decision. When you are halfway between falling and landing, you will think to yourself about how sorry you are for sleeping in the stratosphere.
Ellis Raskin is a junior Philosophy major. He can be reached at eraskin@oxy.edu.
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