back to school
backpack safety
wrong
right
wrong
right
(strap on one shoulder)
(wide, padded straps on
both shoulders)
(load too heavy)
(load no more than 10-15%
of body weight)
W
hen you move your child's
backpack after he or she
drops it at the door, does it
feel like it contains 40 pounds
of rocks? Maybe you've noticed your child struggling
to put it on, bending forward
while carrying it, or complaining of tingling or numbness.
If you've been concerned about
the effects that extra weight might
have on your child's still-growing
body, your instincts are correct.
Backpacks that are too heavy
can cause a lot of problems for
kids, like back and shoulder
pain, and poor posture. The
problem has grabbed the attention of lawmakers in some
states, who have pushed for
legislation requiring school
districts to lighten the load.
While we wait for solutions like
digital textbooks to become
widespread, there are things
you can do to help prevent injury. While it's common these
days to see children carrying as
much as a quarter of their body
weight, the American Chiropractic Association recommends
a backpack weigh no more than
10 percent of a child's weight.
18
|
WINTER GARDEN MAGAZINE
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What About Backpacks on Wheels?
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Remember: A roomy backpack may seem like a
good idea, but the more space there is to fill,
the more likely your child will fill it. Help your
child determine what is absolutely necessary
to carry. If it's not essential, leave it at home.
|
AUGUST 2016
They're so common these days, they're
almost cool. But, the ACA is not givendorsement.
strong
a
them
ing
Rolling backpacks should be used "cautiously and on a limited basis by only those
students who are not physically able to
carry a backpack," The reason? They clutter school corridors, replacing a potential
back injury hazard with a tripping hazard.
So, pick up that pack from time to time, and
let your children know you've got their back.
tips:
1. Pack li
gh
weigh m tly : A backpack
ore than
should n
10 to 20
ever
student’s
percent
bo
of the
2. Organ dy weight.
ize: Mak
e use of
and pac
all c
kh
of the ba eavier items clo ompartments
sest to th
ck.
e center
3. Pick a
comfort
able pac
with wid
k: Choo
e, padde
se o
d should
padded
er straps ne
back.
and a
4. Alway
s use bo
th should
ing a ba
er straps:
ckp
Slingstrain m ack over one sh
uscles an
o
d may in ulder can
of the sp
crease cu
ine.
rvature