According to Consumer Reports, between the years 2000 and 2006, there was a 62 percent increase in the number of treadmill injuries requiring hospital treatment. Most injuries were among toddlers and young children, who are the most susceptible to serious accidents. Supervision of children near treadmills and other exercise equipments is crucial to their safety.
Hand Burns
Young children and babies who approach a treadmill when it is in use are at risk of serious burns to the hands if they touch the moving belt. Curious children may also reach out under the machine and get injured. The speed of motion of the belt and the friction create intense heat, which can result in abrasions and burns that require medical attention and skin grafts. Sometimes, the hand gets caught between the treadmill belt and the roller, leading to excruciating burns. In some cases, the skin is scarred so badly that the child may become unable to fully extend her fingers. Such cases may require plastic surgery.
Hand Injuries
A study published in the "Journal of the American Osteopathic Association" in 2004 found that home treadmills are most likely to cause injuries to the hands, fingers, wrist and forearms in children younger than five years of age. These injuries mostly occur when a child approaches an adult who is exercising on the treadmill. By the time the adult realizes that the child has touched the treadmill and stops the machine, a serious injury may already have occurred.
Accidents on Unattended Treadmills
A folded treadmill can be a hazard because of the risk that it can topple over a young child underneath. To prevent such injuries, it is best to keep young children away from treadmills. If possible, keep the machine in a locked room or place child safety barriers around it so that a curious toddler cannot approach it, whether it is in use or folded up after use. A child who climbs onto an unattended machine and turns it on can be toppled over at great force. When the treadmill is not in use, unplug it.
Preventing Tragedies
If you are using the machine in the same room as your child, position it in such a way that you can see him at all times. Never use headphones or other devices that could distract you from your surroundings. Read safety instructions and learn how to the use the machine properly. Keep the area around the treadmill clear of objects that could trip people. Children may also use furniture around treadmills to climb on to the machine, which can be dangerous. Cords on treadmills are a strangulation hazard. Keep cords securely tied at least 5 feet above the floor, so that young children cannot reach them.
References
- Consumer Reports; Safety tip: Keep treadmills out of your child's reach; January 20, 2009
- The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute; Treadmill Machines Can Injure Small Children, Says Researcher at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; October 9, 2001; John Ascenzi
- "Journal of the American Osteopathic Association"; Home Treadmill Injuries in Infants and Children Aged to 5 Years: A Review of Consumer Product Safety Commission Data and an Illustrative Report of Case; Mazen I. Abbas, DO, MPH; H. Brent Bamberger, DO; Rick W. Gebhart, DO; Sept 2004
- Australian Competition & Consumer Commission; Domestic Treadmills; October 2008
- Chicago Tribune; Tips to Keep Your Kids Safe from Exercise Equipment and Cords; July 22, 2009; Diane C. Lade
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