Will Your Child’s Backpack Make the Grade?

With another new school year underway, Backpack Safety America™/ International along with Chiropractic USA is reminding parents and school administrators that wearing backpacks improperly, or too heavy, can put children at risk for painful back and neck problems and structural damage that can lead to long term health problems.

     

“There is growing evidence that backpacks may be a threat to spinal development.”  Some 13,900 emergency room visits in 2013 were related to backpack injuries, according to U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. These numbers do not include student’s who went to doctors of chiropractic or other healthcare providers. Another recent study of backpacks carrying Pre-K through 9th graders showed that unhealthy changes in posture are magnified if the backpack weighs more than 10-15 percent of the body weight.

      

Each year Chiropractic USA joins thousands of healthcare professionals and educators throughout North America and around the world in helping school-age children use their backpacks safely and properly. We recommend following the safety tips from Backpack Safety America™:

Choose right:

• Choose a backpack designed for safety and comfort, with padding in the back and both shoulder straps. A backpack should ideally have a padded strap around the waist for extra support. 
• Look for pockets and compartments inside the backpack to more evenly distribute the weight across the back. 
• Look for a backpack with straps on the sides or bottom to compress the contents, so that items are as close to back as possible. 
• Look for a backpack with reflective strips for increased visibility at night.

Pack right:

• The maximum weight of the loaded backpack should not exceed 15 percent of your body weight. 
• Pack only what you need for the day. Carry a book or two by hand to relieve the load if necessary. 
• If the backpack forces the wearer to lean forward to carry, it’s overloaded.

Lift Right:

• Use these steps for proper lifting to prevent injury:
• Face the pack
• Bend at the knees
• Using both hands, check the weight of the pack
• Lift with your legs
• Apply one shoulder strap at a time
• Avoid slinging the pack quickly over one shoulder.

Wear it right:

• Use both shoulder straps at all times to avoid unnecessary pressure to one side of your body.
• Make the shoulder snug, but not too tight.
• When your backpack has a waist strap are sure to use it to stabilize the load.

These additional tips can help prevent injury or accident:

• Keep backpacks off the floors and clear of walkways. Prevent the possibility of someone tripping over your backpack.
• Do not swing your backpack. It could hurt you and it is dangerous to those around you
• Make sure that pens, pencils and other sharp objects are stored in a safe spot so they don’t poke though and injure you or someone else.
• For more information on backpack safety America and how you can bring a program to your school or school district.

UNTIL 9/5/14 CHIROPRACTIC USA will do a full spinal evaluation, analysis, consultation, x-rays ( if necessary) and report of findings for NO CHARGE (at the doctors expense)

back pack