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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Augusta, Ga. – When you purchase back-to-school supplies for your children, the last thing you’d expect is to buy something dangerous. However, the parents of 6,000 children do just that each year.
Which school supply could be so harmful? Backpack-related injuries send
thousands of children to the emergency room every year.
Backpacks come in many sizes and designs that allow children of all
ages to express their own style. But before you let them choose one, be
sure the backpack your child desires is safe.
To wisely choose a backpack, select a lightweight pack that doesn’t
add more pounds to your child’s load. Make sure it has two wide,
padded shoulder straps, because narrow straps can dig into the
shoulders. A padded back on the pack will provide increased comfort and
protect kids from being poked by the sharp edges of pencils, pens,
rulers and other objects stored inside. Multiple compartments are
recommended to help distribute the weight more evenly. A waist belt will
also help distribute the weight across the body.
Compared to shoulder bags, messenger bags or purses, backpacks are
better because the strongest muscles in the body-the back and the
abdominal muscles-support the weight of the packs. So stick with a
standard backpack. Finally, choose a backpack that is the right size for
your student. It should cover no more than 75 percent of the length of
your child’s back, which is approximately the space between the
shoulder blades and waist.
Once you’ve chosen the backpack, follow these three steps to ensure
that it’s used correctly.
Step 1: Pack it correctly. The maximum weight of the loaded backpack
should not exceed 15 percent of your child’s body weight, so pack only
what is needed. If the backpack forces the child to lean forward to
carry it, then it’s overloaded. Also, be sure to place the heaviest
books closest to the back as they require the greatest body support.
Step 2: Lift it correctly. Facing the backpack, have your child bend at
the knees. Use both hands and check the weight of the pack. Then lift
with the legs and apply one shoulder strap and then the other. Don’t
let your child just sling the backpack onto one shoulder and go. This
will put too much strain on one side of the upper body.
Step 3: Wear it correctly. The backpack straps should be snug, but not
too tight. Unnecessary tightness can also hurt the shoulders. Make sure
your child wears the waist strap if the backpack is equipped with one in
order to better distribute the load.
As practical as backpacks are, they can strain muscles and joints and
may cause back pain if they are too heavy or used incorrectly. So it is
important to help your child choose an appropriate backpack and use it
wisely.
MCG Health, Inc. (d/b/a MCGHealth) is a not-for-profit corporation
operating the MCGHealth Medical Center, MCGHealth Children’s Medical
Center, the Georgia Radiation Therapy Center, and related outpatient
facilities and services throughout the state. For more information,
please visit mcghealth.org.
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