Remember When Buying a Backpack: Pack it Light. Wear it Right.

08/07/09

INDIANAPOLIS - Parents are flocking to stores in anticipation of the first day of school to purchase school supplies including pencils, lunchboxes, folders and the ever important backpack. It's hard to go wrong when buying folders or pencils, but the wrong backpack can mean possible bodily injury for a child.

When it comes to buying a backpack, Riley Hospital for Children and the Indiana University (IU) Department of Occupational Therapy at IUPUI would like for parents to remember two things: Pack it light. Wear it right.

"Aching back and shoulders, tingling arms, weakened muscles and stooped posture are all symptoms related to carrying a backpack that is too heavy or worn improperly," said Cara Fast, MSW, manager of the Riley Safety Store and child injury prevention programs for Riley Community Education and Child Advocacy.

To help children load and wear their backpacks, and avoid pain and other health problems, parents are encouraged to follow these simple guidelines:

• Make sure the backpack is the right size for your child's back. Choose a lightweight pack that doesn't add a lot of weight to your child's load.
• Be sure that the backpack has two wide, padded straps that rest comfortably on your child's shoulders. Your child should always wear both straps when carrying the backpack.
• Adjust the shoulder straps so the pack fits snugly to your child's back. The bottom of the pack should rest at the curve of the lower back.
• Buy a backpack with a waist belt. It will help distribute the weight of your child's load.
• Do not allow your child to carry a backpack that weighs more than 15 percent of his or her body weight. For example, if a child weighs 100 pounds, their backpack should not weigh more than 15 pounds.
• Lay the heaviest items in the backpack first so they will be closest to your child's back.
• Arrange books and supplies so they don't move around in the backpack.
• Check your child's backpack to make sure the items they're carrying are absolutely necessary.
• When the backpack is too heavy, encourage your child to hand-carry a book, lunchbox or other items to lighten the load.
• If the backpack is too heavy, consider buying your child a backpack on wheels. Check with your child’s school to be sure a wheeled backpack is acceptable.

The Riley Safety Store at Riley Hospital offers Riley Hospital backpacks for purchase by the general public. Back-to-school safety information, including information on how to select and properly pack a backpack, is included with each purchase. A portion of the proceeds for Riley backpacks helps support adapted safety products at the Riley Safety Store for children with disabilities or health care needs.

IUPUI Occupational Therapy graduate students will be conducting a backpack safety education display at the Indiana State Fair in the Clarian Health Lifestyles Pavilion on Wednesday, August 19, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. For more information about backpack safety and the Riley Safety Store, please call 317-274-6565, 1-888-365-2022 (toll-free) or visit www.rileyhospital.org/kids1st.

About Riley Hospital for Children -- As one of the nation's leading pediatric hospitals and Indiana's first and only comprehensive hospital dedicated exclusively to the care of children, Riley Hospital for Children, a part of Clarian Health, has provided compassionate care, support and comfort to children and their families for 85 years. Each year, Riley serves over 230,000 inpatients and outpatients from across Indiana, the nation and the world. Riley Hospital's partnership with Clarian Health, and its strong affiliation with the Indiana University School of Medicine, makes it the only comprehensive clinical resource for Indiana’s children and the premiere source for health-related information for their parents. From simple care associated with the health and wellness of children and less complex specialty care to the most critically-ill and medically complex cases, Riley Hospital for Children is a national leader. Clarian Health operates the Methodist Hospital, Indiana University Hospital and Riley Hospital campuses as a single hospital under Indiana law.

For more information contact Margie Smith-Simmons at 317-962-4085.