Silicon Valley Exec’s Death Highlights Treadmill Safety Risks

May 5, 2015 — The death of a prominent Silicon Valley executive who was exercising on a treadmill has brought attention to the serious risks associated with this popular piece of exercise equipment.

SurveyMonkey CEO David Goldberg, husband to Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg, died of severe head trauma and bleeding while exercising at a resort near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, according to CNN.

Although details are still murky, the Washington Post warned that cellphone and high-tech distractions could make treadmills more dangerous.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), 30 deaths were associated with treadmills from 2003-2012, or an average of about three deaths per year. Exercise can cause heart problems to surface, and it is possible that Mr. Sandberg had a cardiovascular event before falling.

Non-fatal injuries are much more common and a surprising number are serious. Last year, about 25,000 people in the United States had treadmill injuries that required a visit to the emergency department, according to the New York Times.

Earlier this year, Consumer Reports published seven tips on treadmill safety, primarily aimed at avoiding trips and falls while using the equipment.

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