Warning on children and home fitness equipment
A shocking number of Victorian children are being admitted to hospital each year thanks to home fitness equipment injuries, now experts fear even more kids could be at risk following the closure of gyms. Here’s how you can keep your child safe.
VIC News
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More than 100 Victorian children are admitted to hospital each year with home fitness equipment injuries, sparking warnings for parents to keep kids safe.
Almost half of those injured are aged under four.
Treadmills account for one-third of all accidents, followed by dumbbells and then exercise bikes. Kidsafe Victoria general manager Jason Chambers said figures from the Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit showed 127 Victorian children aged 14 and under were seriously injured in 2018-19.
The numbers are expected to be much higher this year as a result of the coronavirus shutting gyms and sparking a 400 per cent increase in the sale of home gym equipment from the end of March.
“The increase in people purchasing and using home exercise equipment, coupled with children spending more time at home, means that there is an increased risk of exercise equipment-related injuries occurring,” Mr Chambers said.
“One of the most effective ways to reduce the risk is to restrict children’s access to exercise equipment. This can be achieved by setting up the equipment in a spare room that can be locked, or using safety products such as barriers and gates.”
Mr Chambers said motorised equipment, such as treadmills and exercise bikes, were made for adults and could be dangerous for children.
“They often consist of sharp, moving parts that operate at high speeds, which can easily trap little fingers or cause severe friction burns,” he said.
“There are also a range of other hazards, including heavy equipment, such as weights and medicine balls, which pose a crushing hazard, and long strings and bands, which can pose a strangulation hazard.”
Jenny Newton from Wantirna is the mother of Jack, 9, Ava, 6, and Leo, 4. She set up a home gym to “try to squeeze in some exercise, to keep fit and clear my head”.
“The kids want to join in too, but the equipment is not designed for them. I worry that they will hurt themselves if they try, so I lock the door to keep them safely out of the way,” she said.
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