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Tip
of the Month
Tips to
preventing backpack-related injury:
- Ensure that
your child’s backpack is sturdy and appropriately sized. Some
manufacturers offer special child size versions for children age’s
five to ten. These packs weigh less than a pound and have shorter
back lengths and widths to prevent slippage.
- Consider more
than looks when choosing a backpack. A poor fitting backpack can cause
back pain, muscle strain or rib impingement. To help distribute the
load, look for packs with padded shoulder straps and waist straps.
- Ensure that
the weight of your child’s pack does not exceed 15% of his or
her body weight.
- Avoid overloading
by prioritizing the items your child carries and elimination of unnecessary
contents.
- Teach your youngster
to pack his or her backpack by evenly distributing the contents throughout
the pack.
- Insist that
your child never carry a backpack on one shoulder. Both shoulder straps
– as well as the waist strap should be used at all times.
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