Infants and small children may be injured if they encounter an exercise treadmill in the home.
Major types of injuries:
(1) abrasions and/or contusions
(2) lacerations
Less frequent types of injury:
(1) head trauma
(2) joint sprain
(3) fracture
(4) crush injury
(5) friction burn
(6) avulsion
(7) amputation
Primary sites of injury:
(1) fingers and hands
(2) wrists and forearms
(3) head
Less frequent sites:
(1) lower extremity
(2) trunk
Risk factors for injury:
(1) playing on or around the equipment
(2) trying to climb onto the treadmill while the track is in motion
(3) getting fingers caught in the mechanism, especially between the end of the belt and the rear end bar
(4) lack of parenteral supervision
(5) failure to stop the machinie immediately (stopping the treadmill immediately may not prevent injury but it will reduce severity)
(6) track moving at a high speed
To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.
Specialty: Emergency Medicine, Critical Care