Peloton and a Child’s Death
March 19, 2021
The Chief Executive Officer of Peloton, John Foley, recently announced that a child died as a result of an accident involving the Peloton Tread+. In a public letter posted on the Peloton website, the CEO and Co-Founder acknowledged they are aware of a number of injuries that occurred where children were hurt involving the same equipment model.
Due to the family’s privacy, very few details of how the child died have been released. However, Foley did recommend that the safety key is kept out of reach of children and that the space surrounding the treadmill should remain clear. According to the company, the machine was tested for people weighing 105 pounds or more and age 16 or older.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is currently investigating this incident. While treadmill deaths are rare, injuries are very common. In 2019, There were approximately 22,500 injuries treated in Emergency Departments across the United States, with about 2000 of those involving children under the age of 8 years old. Seventeen fatalities involving a treadmill were reported between 2018 and 2020, including a 5-year-old child.
Peloton, best known for its stationary bikes, gained popularity and its stock climbed more than 400% during 2020. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, more Americans looked for ways to exercise at home. During this time, Peloton expanded its offerings to include a more expensive bike and a less expensive treadmill.
