BACKPACK SAFETY TIPS

With the summer vacation coming to a close, most kids and their parents are busy planning things for the brand new school year. An item on almost every list is a backpack.

Every year, close to 6,000 children in the US suffer from injuries due to their backpacks, according to Linda Rhodes, who is an occupational therapist at the MCGHealth Children’s Medical Center in Augusta, Ga. She offered some tips for parents in order to ensure maximum backpack safety:

The backpack should be fairly light and of a weight that your child can manage. Ensure that the shoulder straps are padded fairly well and wide. If the back of the backpack is padded – even better as it will not only add to your child’s comfort, but protect him from be poked in the back from rulers, pens, pencils, etc.

Ensure that the backpack you purchase is of an appropriate size for your child. If unsure, check that the backpack is at maximum ¾ of the expanse of your child’s back.

Packing should be done carefully. The heavier books should be placed closest to the back. This way, it will have the least amount of stress on your child’s back. Otherwise leaning forward could pose a challenge for your child. Also, ensure that the weight of the backpack, once loaded does not exceed 15% of your child’s weight.

Always make sure your child has his backpack on correctly – with both shoulder straps. Some kids tend to carry it on one shoulder, which means that particular shoulder is being strained. The shoulder straps should fit fairly snugly, but should not be too tight. If the backpack comes with a waist strap, then it will help to support the load better.