Backpack Basics
Most Injuries Are Preventable
Nationwide, backpack-related injuries send about 6,000 children to the emergency room each year.But just about every backpack-related injury is
preventable. That’s why Eric Wall, MD, director of the Orthopaedic Surgery Division at Cincinnati Children’s, offers back-to-school advice to lighten the load:
- Limit loads to 15 to 20 percent of the child’s weight.
- Choose a lightweight backpack with wide, padded shoulder straps, a cushioned back and waist straps.
- Use both shoulder straps. Make sure they fit snug against the body.
- Balance the weight with the heaviest items in the center of the back.
- Remind your child to bend at the knees while lifting and wearing the pack.
- If your child complains of persistent back or shoulder pain, see your doctor.
