We hope that you have been having a safe & relaxing summer! As students of all ages prepare to head back to school, we thought we would share some important backpack safety tips.
- Experts say that students should not carry more than 10-15% of their body weight in their backpack. That means for a student weighing 75lbs, their backpack should only weigh a maximum of 11lbs.
- When purchasing a backpack, look for one with wide, padded shoulder straps and padding along the back.
- Speaking of shoulder straps, make sure your student is carrying their backpack using BOTH shoulder straps in order to evenly distribute the weight of the backpack. Take the time to properly adjust the straps so that the backpack is snug against your student’s back.
- Once properly adjusted, the backpack should sit approximately 2″ above the hips.
- Make sure everything in the backpack is truly a necessary item. Can an item be kept at home? Can an item be stored in a locker?
As the school year progresses, if your student is experiencing tingling, numbness, or weakness in their shoulders, arms, hands, or fingers, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us! Correcting potential problems early on will go a long way in preventing future problems.