Treadmills are one of the most popular pieces of home exercise equipment in America — and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns that they have caused severe injuries to young children who come into contact with the moving belt while a parent is using the machine nearby. The hazard is not the treadmill’s external surfaces or its weight — it is the exposed, continuously moving belt underneath and around the front roller, which can entrap small fingers, hands, and feet almost instantly.
How Treadmill Entrapment Happens
Children are drawn to the movement and sound of a running treadmill and may approach it while a parent is exercising. The moving belt and rollers at the front of the machine sit close to the floor and are accessible to a child who crawls, reaches, or sits near the treadmill. When a small finger, hand, or foot contacts the moving belt, the friction instantly drags the limb into the mechanism, causing abrasion injuries so severe they are classified as degloving — the complete removal of skin from an area — as well as fractures and crush injuries.
CPSC also warns against children riding on treadmills with adults. The speed and mechanics that are manageable for an adult are not controllable for a small child.
The Safety Key That Most People Remove
Every residential treadmill is equipped with a magnetic safety key attached to a cord — one end clips to the user’s clothing, the other plugs into the machine. If the user falls or steps off, the cord pulls the key out and stops the belt within seconds. CPSC says many users remove this key because they find it inconvenient, eliminating the single most important emergency shutoff on the machine.
What Every Treadmill Owner With Children Must Do
- Use the treadmill’s safety key every single time you use the machine. Never remove it for convenience.
- When the treadmill is not in use, unplug it and store or lock the safety key so children cannot start it.
- If possible, store the treadmill in a room that can be locked when not in use.
- Never allow a child to sit near, play around, or ride on a treadmill.
- Treadmills should be placed against a wall with minimal access space at the sides and rear.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, visit SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC’s Hotline at 800-638-2772.
Source: https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Guides/Exercise-Equipment/Treadmill-Safety
