by The Orlando Sentinel
Backpack Safety America offers these tips to make sure your child's backpack
doesn't cause injury:
- Ensure that your child's backpack is sturdy and appropriately sized.
Some manufacturers offer special child-size versions for children ages 5
to 10. 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. An ill-fitting pack
can cause back pain, muscle strain or nerve compression. 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 percent
of his or her body weight. Avoid overloading by prioritizing the items
your child carries and eliminating unnecessary contents.
- Teach children to pack their backpacks by evenly distributing the
contents throughout the pack
- Insist that your child never carry a backpack over one shoulder. Both
shoulder straps — as well as the waist strap — should be used at all
times.
August 28, 2001
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