It is always a good idea to think about our health and wellbeing. Moms are always thinking about the health of their children, and they often put themselves on the shelf while they make sure that their children have everything that they need to thrive in life. However, mom needs to make sure that she is taking care of herself so that she can be the best mom possible for her children. How a mom does this may be different based on her life and her own personal goals. This could be anything from taking some self-care breaks for her mental health or trying to eat just a bit healthier.
This could also mean trying to exercise more, to care for her body. Exercise is not only good for a person’s physical health, but their mental health as well and a lot of moms out there may be thinking about purchasing a treadmill. A treadmill is a standard piece of gym equipment that is in a lot of people’s homes, and these homes have children. While it may seem common enough, there are a lot of reasons why mom needs to think about some safety issues when it comes to treadmills and children.
In a simple world, parents would only need to tell their child to stay away from something, or not touch it, but this is hardly a perfect world and safety should never be taken for granted.
The Risk Is Real
Sometimes, we don’t realize that something is dangerous until we hear a story from someone else about a tragedy that happened to them. According to US News, one family knows first-hand how dangerous treadmills can be, and while it could have been a lot worse, they are sounding the alarm on treadmills and children. Sarah Beckman is a mom to 3-year-old Hazel, and her daughter suffered a severe friction burn when her arm got trapped in a home treadmill. Sarah said that she feels horrible and guilty, but if her story can help another family, she wants to share. Sarah said that it happened so quickly, and since the newer treadmills are quiet, the family did not realize that one of their older children had turned it on and was running on it. This story is just one of many, and it can serve as an important reminder to follow the following tips.
Put It Away
According to The Chicago Tribune, treadmills are responsible for thousands of ER visits every year due to injuries from treadmills in children. One of the best ways to avoid this is to put it away. When you are not using your treadmill, if you can, it should be kept in a locked room or put away altogether. If you cannot remove your treadmill every time, the very least that should be done is that it should be unplugged, and the cord placed out of reach. If mom is just thinking about buying a treadmill, she should look for one that can be folded down, and stored under a bed or in a closet when not in use.
A lot of treadmills have a safety plug that has to be placed on the treadmill for it to operate. These are usually magnetic, and when mom and dad are not using the treadmill, they should remove it and keep it in a safe space where children cannot reach it. Without this, the treadmill cannot turn on.
Keep The Environment Safe
If mom has to keep the treadmill where it is, then she should make sure the surrounding space is safe. According to Very Well Fit, a lot of injuries also happen due to falling off and crashing into something. Make sure the surrounding floor is clear and that there is nothing hard around it. It is also wise to place the treadmill on some foam or padding and make sure it is wider than the treadmill so if someone does fall, they have something to cushion their fall.
Teach
If mom has older children who are curious about the treadmill and maybe have expressed wanting to try it, mom can use her own judgment to see how comfortable she is with her children using it. However, the importance of teaching treadmill safety cannot be overstated. Make sure a child knows that a treadmill is only to be used as directed, and it is not a place to try out flips or “see how fast you can go.” Find a comfortable pace for them, and make sure they know that is their limit for speed. Tell home how to be safe, and what measures to take to make sure they do not get hurt.
Treadmills can be great for health and well-being, but only if they are being used safely and properly.
Sources: US News, The Chicago Tribune, Very Well Fit