When I heard the story about Mike Tyson's 4-year-old daughter dying in a freak treadmill accident, I assumed this kind of thing was pretty rare. I was surprised to learn that thousands of young children are treated in hospitals for treadmill-related injuries each year. Although most injuries are minor, some are very serious. That got me to thinking about the safety of home workout equipment, especially in my own home where my young children could be at risk. According to Consumer Reports, treadmill burns are some of the most common injuries that occur when toddlers touch the belt while it's running. Some of those injuries occur when children are unsupervised, but many happen when the child approaches from behind while the parent is running or walking. I know there have been times when my daughter gets close to the treadmill while I'm running, and I'm lucky I notice to stop her from getting too close. But treadmills aren't the only equipment that should be kept out of a young child's reach. Bikes, stair climbers, and weight machines can also cause injury. It's easy for little fingers to get caught between moving parts. In the case of Tyson's daughter, the Associated Press reported that Phoenix police said there was a cord hanging from the console of the treadmill in Tyson's house and that his daughter had slipped or put her head in the loop, which then tightened. There are some easy steps you can take to make your home safer and prevent exercise equipment accidents: 1. Don't allow children around your exercise equipment when it's in use. If you're trying to squeeze in a workout with the kids around, try setting them up in another area of the room with a game or other activity to keep them occupied. But if you do that, make sure it's in a place where you can see them. 2. When you're not using the machine, keep it unplugged or in a locked room. Unplugging will also help save on your energy bills! 3. Do not put furniture near windows that have blind cords, since children could easily climb up and get caught in them. This applies not only to exercise equipment, but all of the furniture in your house. You can also get cord wind-ups like these. I use them in my home to keep cords out of reach. 4. According to Consumer Reports, "If your treadmill has a safety clip—the clip that attaches to your clothing and is meant to shut off the machine in the event of a fall or when you're not using it—remove it when the machine is not in use. This switch attaches to the treadmill by a cord and can pose a strangulation risk for your child if you tie it around the treadmill’s handrail. Most machines won’t turn on without the safety clip attached, so removing it will also prevent accidental operation of the machine." 5. Do not tie loops in a cord, but instead find a way to attach the cord to the machine in a safe way. Do you have other safety tips for using home exercise equipment with young kids around? Share them here!
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or will try to come onto the treadmill or trampoline when i am on it. Report
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I do have a problem with the kids climbing on the treadmill no matter what I have told them and I have told them about Mike Tyson's daughter. I did buy them some 2lb hand weights they can use when I am working out and I only get on the treadmill when they are laying on the futon to go to sleep and I can see them. Report
My 2 year old was constantly sitting on the pedals and making them slide. I was so afraid she was going to get her fingers or toes stuck in the guides.
My boyfriend cut a piece of wood to fit the length of the glide when it's not being used, this way if she sits or touches the pedals, it does not go anywhere! Report
Safety is an issue with any toy or machine, but I'd never have thought of burns from the treadmill belt so I'm glad I read this. I think it would apply to my sewing machine treadle belt as well, although not as big a problem (smoother and narrower and right in front of me when in use). I also kick that off when not in use.
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My GS loves our exercise bike, & my biggest fear there is that he will fall off it! LOL But, we also loves to heft my dumbbells around (Granny's visualizing a broken toe or two...), & the jump rope? I keep that out of sight, mostly for the safety of lamps & vases & stuff, but it's good to think of GS's safety, too! Report
Thanks for the great article.
You can never be to safe.
Have a great day everyone!
:o) Report
We have a treadmill in a room that can be locked and keep the safety clip in a safe place. We also have a rule that no children can get on the treadmill, even when it's not moving.
It's just like any other safety step you take to keep children safe - lock away the poisons (cleaning liquids, bleach, etc.), put outlet covers on, etc. It's so much better to child-proof the entire house (as much as possible) than have to deal with a child that's been injured in some way - especially when most of it is easy to prevent.
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