title: Pediatric treadmill injuries: a public health issue.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Treadmill injuries in children tend to be severe and are becoming increasingly common. We present an overview of this problem to promote public awareness, education, and to advocate a prevention strategy for this preventable injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records of all children with treadmill-related injuries during a 6-year period (January 2001-November 2006) from 2 tertiary pediatric hospitals were reviewed. Data on patient demographics, injury related data, types of surgical procedure, and outcome of treatment were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-four children with treadmill-related injuries were admitted in a 6-year period (2001-2006). Each year, the incidence increased with 17 (39%) cases occurring in 2006 so far. The median age of injury at the time of incident was 2.8 years (range, 8 months-12 years). There was a higher incidence in males (55%) compared with females (45%). Most of these injuries were to the hand (75%), full-thickness burns (59%), <1% of total burn surface area (TBSA) (73%), and occurred while the treadmill was in use by an adult (34%). Twenty-one (47%) children required skin grafting surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treadmill-related burn injuries in children are a serious public health issue and warrants considerable attention. Adult supervision is paramount, and prevention strategies should include child safety features in equipment designs.
authors: The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney NSW 2031, Australia. april_wong80@yahoo.com.au
authors: April
authors: A
authors: Wong
authors: Deborah
authors: D
authors: Maze
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: La Hei
authors: Niall
authors: N
authors: Jefferson
authors: Sean
authors: S
authors: Nicklin
authors: Susan
authors: S
authors: Adams
mesh_terms: D000056:Accident Prevention; D000061:Accidents, Home / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000367:Age Factors; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001364:Awareness; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D017276:Friction; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D011634:Public Health; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013177:Sports; D019876:Sports Equipment / Q000009:adverse effects*