RCSC Treadmill Users
Asked to Employ Safety Device
Due to several
accidents on treadmills at the Recreation Centers of Sun City, Inc.’s
fitness centers, RCSC has placed stickers on all its treadmills
requesting that users employ a safety cord device, available on all of
the machines, that automatically stops the treadmill when the user trips
or falls. Monitors in the RCSC fitness centers had regularly reminded
users about the safety cord, but since many users did not comply and
accidents continued to occur, RCSC chose to place reminder stickers next
to the Start button on each treadmill.
Most recently-produced treadmills
include the automatic-shutoff safety cord, which consists of a cord with
a plug at one end and a clip at the other. Users insert the plug in the
treadmill itself and clip the other end to their clothing. If the user
trips or falls while on the machine, the plug will be pulled out and the
treadmill will automatically stop.
RCSC has 35 treadmills currently in use in five different fitness
centers. According to RCSC Assistant General Manager Jim Wellman, 17
accidents involving treadmills have been reported in RCSC fitness
centers so far this year. “The safety cord is a simple precaution that
can prevent serious accidents or injury,” he said. “We just want to keep
our cardholders safe.”
The stickers on the treadmills state,
“You must attach safety cord to clothing before operating treadmill.”
RCSC Equipment Technician Frank Furey noted that the stickers were
placed next to the Start button on all treadmills to remind users to
attach the safety cord to their clothing before starting the machine.
The stickers have been in place since early August.
“While some may argue that the
stickers are not necessary, statistics prove otherwise,” said RCSC
General Manager Jan Ek. “There were 9 reported treadmill spills in 2005,
18 in 2006 and already almost that many in 2007. With these numbers
steadily climbing each year, we feel it is very important to remind each
user to employ the safety cord device first before starting the
machine.”
