• View ecochildsplay’s profile on Facebook
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on Twitter
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on Instagram
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on Pinterest
  • View Jennifer Lance’s profile on LinkedIn
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on YouTube
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on Google+

Eco Child's Play

Live a greener, healthier life!

  • Environment
  • Pregnancy
  • Food & Recipes
  • Health News
  • Parenting
  • Green Toys
  • Beauty & Beauty Products
  • Green Home & Cleaning
  • Contact

Treadmill Injuries in Children on the Rise

I was saddened to read about the death of Mike Tyson’s daughter. The loss of a young child is a parent’s worst nightmare, and just reading about any loss such as this is heartbreaking.

I paused as I read this post from New York Times health blog, Well, which explained an increase preventable injuries from treadmills among children. In Mike Tyson’s daughter’s case, she became entangled in a cord that hung from the console (this cord was probably a safety cord used to shut down a treadmill if a user falls off). Severe burns are also an increasing problem from treadmills. Even with the parent in the room, a child can come up from behind and touch the treadmill belt. The statistics about how many children are hurt by home gym equipment is eye opening– 25,000 a year. Treadmill and home exercise equipment safety is a subject that isn’t normally talked about, such as pools, window blinds, car seats and lead paint are.

Many comments to the New York Times post are very disheartening, disturbing, and outright “cold” as author Tara Pope put it. It’s the same crowd telling people that they’ve overreacted, that we are trying to make our children live in padded boxes while eating all organic food, sleeping on organic sheets over organic mattresses (you can see where I am going here–). One or two commenters also proclaimed that people should be outside exercising! Why would one need a treadmill?

I’m floored by the lack of empathy and understanding here. I have a treadmill in my basement, and before I had my two children, I was a regular marathoner (and I hope to be again someday). There are days when I take my two children down in the basement, to the play area I’ve set up in front of the treadmill and I workout. That way, I can run and supervise them. I have always kept them away from the machine, but they are in the area and sometimes approach it while I am running. So this awful situation has informed me to be more vigilant. It could be that many parents are in the same boat, not realizing the serious threat of injury or death a treadmill can cause. Am I putting my children in a box? Nope. I am showing them that exercise is important to me, even when it is dark, raining, or my husband is working? You bet. Is this worthy of discussing? Absolutely. If it saves one child from a serious injury or death, the answer is obvious.

Other commenters to the post shared awful stories of injuries from treadmills, truly scary stuff. We can learn from their stories. Unplug your treadmill when it’s not in use, and tie up any loose cords so they are out of reach of young hands. Watch closely if working out on a treadmill while your children are nearby, and make it off limits to children. I know I will be watching more closely.

[This post was written by Katy Farber]

  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Pinterest
  • Print
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • More
  • WhatsApp
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Subscribe!

« Kid Guides Aquariums Now On DVD: Get One Free
WTF? Physical Education Doesn't Matter »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Search Content

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter


About Eco Child’s Play

Our ethos is to provide news, information, and opinions on natural, green parenting to help your family live a greener, healthier life! Additionally, we offer personal consulting services to help you achieve your green living goals.

Jennifer is a vegetarian, yoga teacher, gardener, hiker, teacher, and mother that has been living off-the-grid for over 20 years.

Contact Eco Child’s Play

Convenient Plastic Container Free Dropps Laundry & Dishwashing Pods

cbd salve joy organics

CBD Products that Actually Deliver: Joy Organics

More from the archives!

Unassisted Childbirth: One Woman's Story

Win a Copy of Tracking Trash: Flotsam, Jetsam, and the Science of Ocean Motion

Kidzsack: Eco-Friendly Bags Your Kids Can Color

Shocking New Study Finds Long Term Breastfeeding Increases Grade III Breast Cancer Deaths

Hank D and the Bee: Ride a Bee

wama hemp underwear

The Most Comfortable Underwear is Made of Hemp: WAMA Review

Simple Organic Ingredients: Better Than Milk

Information

  • About & Contact
  • Archive
  • Blog
  • Consulting Services
  • Disclaimer, Disclosure, & Sponsored Posts
  • Privacy Policy

Recess or Ritalin: Which Would You Chose for your Child?

maternity leave

Funding Maternity Leave: A conversation with Take 12 Founder Margi Scott

Permanent Genetic Changes Caused by Poor Nutrition in the Womb

Mother's Milk: An Eco Child's Play Series to Celebrate World Breastfeeding Week

organic vermont soap

Hydrate your skin with Vermont Soap Choco-Luscious Organic Skin Smoothie

Popular Categories

  • Breastfeeding
  • Health News
  • Natural Childbirth
  • Parenting
  • Education
  • Product Review
  • Green Toys

Get our posts via email

Please stay in touch!

You might also like to read…

Hypermedia and High Blood Pressure in Kids

Kids Drink Windsheild Wiper Fluid at Daycare: another reason to go for fruit juice

To Fluoridate or Not to Fluoridate: That is the Question

Celebrate the Earth: Create Art Outdoors With Your Children

Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

Copyright © 2022 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2022 · Divine Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.