Will Your Child’s Backpack Make the Grade

Will Your Child’s Backpack Make the Grade?

(August 20, Oaks, PA) – With a new school year underway, Backpack Safety America/International™ along with Dr. Jeff Snyder, an Oaks based Chiropractor 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”, said Dr. Snyder. Some 7,500 emergency room visits in 2007 were related to backpack injuries, according to U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. These numbers do not include students who went to doctors of chiropractic or other healthcare providers. Another recent study of backpack carrying Pre-K through 9^th graders showed that unhealthy changes in posture are magnified if the backpack weighs more than 10-15 percent of the student’s body weight.

Dr. Snyder 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. He recommends the following safety tips from Backpack Safety America^TM:

Choose right: The U.S. National Safety Council makes these recommendations when selecting a backpack for your child: Choose a backpack designed for safety and comfort, with padding in the back and shoulders. A backpack should have a 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 the 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:

1. Face the pack

2. Bend at the knees

3. Using both hands, check the weight of the pack

4. Lift with your legs

5. Apply one shoulder strap at a time. Avoid slinging the pack onto your back

· 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, 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 through and injure you or someone else.
  

For more information on backpack safety and how you can bring a program to your school or school district, visit www.backpacksafe.com or contact Dr. Jeff Snyder at (610) 935-5900.