Many people enjoy being able to work out in their own homes. It’s nice to not go out of your way to go to a gym, to spend money on the membership, or to share the equipment with others in the gym. This is why there are so many people who have home gyms. This will include weights and other workout machines. The problem with exercise equipment like treadmills and ellipticals is the possible danger for children.
According to Gymmaster.com, “there were 409,224 injuries caused by exercise equipment in 2021[…]These injuries ranged from mild strains to severe fractures and head injuries.” The U.S. National Institutes of Health state that about 25,000 children are injured by the exercise equipment every year. The most common injuries include:
Crush Injuries:
These injuries occur when weights fall on parts of the body.
Degloving or Friction Burns:
These burns happen when part of the skin touches the moving belt.
Hand Injuries:
Little hands and fingers can be injured easily because they can get caught between the moving belt and treadmill frame.
Head Injuries and Concussions:
These occur after falling and hitting your head on the treadmill or surrounding objects.
Falling Injuries:
Broken bones and sprains can happen after falling on a moving treadmill.
These injuries differ in their severity. Sometimes the results are minor, like a small burn or a sprain But these injuries can be very severe.
On July 16, 2025, a four-year-old boy in Alpine, Utah was at a friend’s house when he was injured on a treadmill. He received “third and second-degree burns on his arms and legs” according to 2KUTV.
Back in March 2021, 2KUTV also wrote about Peloton sent a warning to all their customers and users “to keep children and pets away from its fitness equipment after a child died in ‘a tragic accident involving…the Tread+.’” They warn their users to make sure the equipment is put away and the safety key is put out of reach.
In 2024, KSL reported that those treadmills were then recalled as they did not follow “the recommendations of the Consumer Product Safety Commision.” This was after dozens of reports came in about “children, pets and objects being pulled under the machine, causing injuries and at least one death involving a child.” Even with a parent or guardian present, children have still been injured.
John Hopkins Medicine shared a story on January 10, 2022 about Hazel Beckman. While this three year old was playing with her brother, they turned on the treadmill. Hazel’s arm got stuck under the treadmill while it was going on high speed. “The incident left Hazel with a 4-inch-long, ¼-inch-deep friction burn on her left forearm. Beckman described the burn as a ‘leathery layer of white.’” The injury did not bleed because the treadmill had cut so deeply, it had taken all the skin that could bleed. Hazel now has a scar, and she continued to wear a bandage months later.
The doctors at the Pediatric Burn center at John Hopkins Children’s Center stated that since the pandemic, there has been an increase in treadmill burns. More families were working-out from home during the pandemic and continue to take advantage of the opportunity. But this means that more children are exposed to these injuries.
There are a few steps you take to make sure your kids stay safe if you do have workout equipment in the house.
Create a Workout Space:
Have a separate room for your gym equipment, with a locked door if possible. This way you can let your children know not to go into that room without supervision. If you can’t have a separate room, add some barriers to block off the equipment.
Keep Out of Reach:
Make sure that you keep the weights, keys, and cords out of reach of children, either in a locked cabinet or a high shelf.
Teach Children About the Equipment:
Let your kids know that the equipment is not a toy and explain how they can get hurt if they play on it. Set rules for them, so they know not to use it while you are away. Even if you don’t have workout equipment, you should still speak with your kids about the dangers. They might go to a friend’s house with the equipment and not know not to play on treadmills.
If you or a child are injured on a treadmill or other equipment, seek out medical help immediately.
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