Kids and treadmills: a bad combination
The death of Mike Tyson's 4-year-old daughter in a treadmill accident this week provides a sobering reminder of the dangers of exercise equipment in homes with children.
More than 25,000 children ages 14 and under are injured with exercise equipment each year, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates. That includes 8,700 accidents involving children under age 5. The types of equipment in these cases include treadmills, stationary bicycles and stair climbers. Fractures and amputations were reported in about 20 percent of exercise equipment-related injuries, according to the CPSC.
Tyson's daughter Exodus died Tuesday after being injured Monday at her Phoenix home. It's believed that she either slipped or put her head around a looped cord hanging under the treadmill console and was suffocated.
The CPSC recommends that parents keep children away from exercise equipment. Stationary bikes should have chain guards, and parents should store or lock equipment when not in use.
In Australia, the government of New South Wales introduced a new safety standard for treadmills. Beginning June 1, all new treadmills must carry a prominent warning sticker to alert users to keep children away from machines when not in use.
The New South Wales government's Web site also offers these safety tips for treadmill users:
* If you can, use your treadmill in a room away from young children. If that's not possible, use safety barriers (like a playpen) to keep children away from it or don't use the treadmill when children are around.
* Always keep the treadmill unplugged when not in use.
* Store the treadmill away from children's reach.
* Always supervise older children if they are using a treadmill.
* Buy a treadmill with a protective cover and a safety stop switch.
(photo: flickr.com)
Richard Martin, Times Staff Writer
Healthy living is a journey, and like most trips, it’s better with reliable directions, good friends and tasty snacks. Personal Best is a forum for people who care about health, harmony and beauty, and want to share what they’ve learned.
Well, that's not a fault of the treadmill, that's a parents concerned. But, it's so sad reading this kind of incident involving treadmill.
Posted by: buy a treadmill | October 26, 2009 at 04:22 AM
This is sad for kids and parents. Work as customer service in lifespanfitness.com.au online shop. I have seen people randomly care about safety when they chose and paid treadmills and then I got lots of customers feedback about the safety of treadmills after bad things happened. I feel really sorry for those injury people. Actually, most of those incidents can be avoid just need to pay attentions, and keep away kids from treadmills. exercise is about your health, safety is about health of you and people around you.
Posted by: George K | September 15, 2009 at 09:34 PM
...Make that a pop-up book with a push button on each page. Push the button and a voice reads the book to the kid.
Posted by: Kimberly | August 30, 2009 at 05:50 PM
Besides the kids who are mostly hurt can't even read whatever those stickers say. Maybe a pop-up book along with the instruction manual should suffice.
For more info on treadmills and how to reasonably use them. Please look into this site.
http://www.treadmillbible.com/
Posted by: Ian Thorton | August 27, 2009 at 07:48 PM
Wow, a sticker! Yea, that will save lives. So where are the "no children" stickers for cars? How about beer bottles? TVs? Maybe some warning stickers on those save kids from dying too.
The bottom line is stickers do not make up for common sence. Wake up people and use your brains!
Posted by: Mike | May 29, 2009 at 08:10 AM