by: me and mom
Lisa A. Haney, Director of Rehabilitation Services at Pennsylvania Hospital, has said that "Greater than 40 million U.S. students carry school bags, and most of them are unaware that overloading or lugging them incorrectly can set them up for a lifetime of problems." According to Ms. Haney, "It's up to parents, teachers and schools to help spread the word about backpack safety and help our kids lighten their loads."
To minimize the harmful effects for your kids brought by improper carrying a school bag, it's important to follow these five tips:
1. Make sure you and your child pick a school backpack that is appropriate for your kid's age and size. You should physically weigh the backpack to make sure it is less than 15 percent of your child's body weight.
2. Adjust the backpack so it rests in the curve of the lower back. The pack should never rest more than four inches below your kid's waistline. Shoulder Straps should be well-padded and as wide as possible to help distribute the weights of the school.
3. Check your kids backpacks and make sure they have only packed items that are necessary for the day's activities. The heaviest items should be loaded in the back of the pack (closest to your child's back), and items should be arranged so they don't shift and move in the pack. It is better for the kid to hand-carry a few items than to over-load the bags.
4. Instruct your child to wear both shoulder straps. The slinging of the pack over one shoulder can cause a great deal of muscle strain. It causes the child to lean to one side, curving the spine and causing discomfort throughout the back, neck and shoulders. Be sure to adjust the straps so the pack fits snugly against the child's back and make certain to fasten the waist belt, if the pack has one, to distribute the weight more evenly.
5. If your child can't or won't wear the bags properly, you may need to consider rolling backpacks. Just make sure the handle is long enough so your child doesn't have to twist or bend to pull the backpack.
To minimize the harmful effects for your kids brought by improper carrying a school bag, it's important to follow these five tips:
1. Make sure you and your child pick a school backpack that is appropriate for your kid's age and size. You should physically weigh the backpack to make sure it is less than 15 percent of your child's body weight.
2. Adjust the backpack so it rests in the curve of the lower back. The pack should never rest more than four inches below your kid's waistline. Shoulder Straps should be well-padded and as wide as possible to help distribute the weights of the school.
3. Check your kids backpacks and make sure they have only packed items that are necessary for the day's activities. The heaviest items should be loaded in the back of the pack (closest to your child's back), and items should be arranged so they don't shift and move in the pack. It is better for the kid to hand-carry a few items than to over-load the bags.
4. Instruct your child to wear both shoulder straps. The slinging of the pack over one shoulder can cause a great deal of muscle strain. It causes the child to lean to one side, curving the spine and causing discomfort throughout the back, neck and shoulders. Be sure to adjust the straps so the pack fits snugly against the child's back and make certain to fasten the waist belt, if the pack has one, to distribute the weight more evenly.
5. If your child can't or won't wear the bags properly, you may need to consider rolling backpacks. Just make sure the handle is long enough so your child doesn't have to twist or bend to pull the backpack.
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