A child has died after an accident involving Peloton’s Tread+ treadmill. As a result, the company’s CEO John Foley has penned a letter to his customers reminding them to keep children away from the equipment at all times.
What Has Peloton Said About the Incident?
In a letter published on the Peloton website, and also sent to customers via email, Peloton CEO John Foley writes that a “tragic accident” involving a child and the Peloton Tread+ treadmill has resulted in death.
No specifics about the incident or those involved have been given. The company intends to keep this private in order to respect those involved. Regardless, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is investigating what happened.
Peloton is an American fitness equipment company that was founded in 2012. Its bikes and treadmills connect online so that you can join virtual fitness classes from home.
The company has seen a big boom in sales recently, caused by the COVID-19 lockdowns, which has created pressure on its supply chain.
In Foley’s letter, he reassured customers that Peloton design and build all of its products with “safety in mind”, but reminded them that they should “keep children and pets away from Peloton exercise equipment at all times”.
The letter continues:
Before you begin a workout, double check to make sure that the space around your Peloton exercise equipment is clear. When you finish a workout on your Tread+, remove the safety key and store it out of reach of children and anyone else who should not be able to start the Tread+.
Is This an Isolated Incident?
This isn’t the first incident involving Peloton machines. A recent separate report from the CPSC details how a three-year-old suffered “significant brain injury” after being “trapped under a Peloton Tread Plus”. The latest report shows that the child is expected to fully recover.
In October 2020, the CPSC recalled Peloton bike pedals due to receiving 120 reports of the pedals breaking. Five of these required medical care.
Last year, in the US alone, there were 22,500 treadmill injuries recorded at emergency departments. 2,000 of those involved children under eight. Between 2018 and 2020, there were 17 deaths because of a treadmill.
If you own a Peloton product and have any concerns, the company ask that you talk to its Member Support Team by calling 844-410-0141. Until then, remind yourself of the safety instructions that come with the product and review your equipment setup to ensure the protection of those around you.