Backpack Safety Tips for Back to School courtesy of Crittenton Hospital in Rochester MI. The average student carries a backpack that weighs about 22 percent of his or her body weight – ouch! Use the following backpack safety guidelines to ensure your child is packed for back to school backpack success!
Backpack Safety Tips for Back to School
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Don’t wear a backpack that hangs too low. The backpack should never hang more than four inches below the waist.
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Don’t allow your child to carry a backpack that weighs more than 10 percent of his or her body weight when packed. If your child has a tendency to lean forward when wearing the backpack, chances are it is too heavy.
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Do wear a backpack with two straps at all times. While some children prefer backpacks with one strap for style, wearing them leaves the weight unevenly distributed on the child’s back and may cause injury.
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Do adjust the straps so the backpack is centered with the curve of the lower back.
To schedule an appointment with a pediatrician at Crittenton Hospital Medical Center, visit www.crittenton.com or call the Physician Referral Service at 888-904-4325.
Backpack Safety Tips for Back to School Source – Wellspring magazine, a Crittenton Hospital Medical Center publication.
See related posts below for more Back to School articles.
Visit aap.org for more Back to School backpack safety tips.
