Children and Treadmill Injuries

The recent death of Mike Tyson’s 4-year-old daughter tragically reminds us that household items, such as exercise equipment, can pose severe risks for children.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), almost 5,500 children under the age of 5 were treated in emergency rooms in 2006 and 2007 for treadmill-related injuries.

Injuries included cuts, bruises, scrapes, primarily on the hands and fingers. One child required an amputation. Thirty-two percent had their hands caught in or on the treadmill, in some cases suffering serious friction burns.

Treadmills and bikes, along with stair climbers, are the pieces of home exercise equipment that pose the greatest hazard to children, according to the CPSC.

Hanging cords are also a risk. The police said a cord was hanging from the console of Tyson’s treadmill and that his daughter had slipped or put her head in the loop, which tightened.

There are no baby-proof cords out there, said Dr. Peter Antevy, a pediatric emergency room physician at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood, Florida. A child can just wrap it around his or her neck and by the time a parent gets there, its too late.

Have more questions? Contact a Milwaukee personal injury lawyer at PKSD to learn more about our services. Ph: 877-877-2228.