Photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash
On Wednesday, September 26th, the American Occupational Therapy Association observes National School Backpack Awareness Day. To ensure that caregivers, educators, and students understand how to safely pack, lift and carry a backpack, the pediatric physicians at Campbell Clinic offer the following tips for students:
- Pack the heaviest items in the back of the backpack
- Bend down and lift from the knees when picking the backpack up
- Use both shoulder straps, the sternum strap, and hip belt to even out the weight
Tips for parents:
- A child’s backpack should weigh no more than 10% of his/her weight
- Be sure the backpack does not extend above a child’s shoulders or below the hip bones
- If your child shows signs of back or neck pain, tingling or numbness in the arms and legs, or changes in posture, call your pediatrician for an appointment.