Backpack Safety Tips for Families Getting Ready For School

(KNSI) – St. Cloud-based CentraCare is offering parents tips to help keep kids safe as they haul around school gear.

Nurses say it starts by picking out the right backpack. While the bag’s color, characters or design might be most important to kids, it shouldn’t be the only factor for mom and dad. The wrong backpack can put too much strain on a kid’s spine, leading to injury.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the bottom of the backpack should be at waist level and no more than four inches below the waist. Try to keep the load light. It should never weigh more than 10% of the child’s weight. Find a backpack with waist and chest straps and padded straps for extra shoulder protection and to support the weight. Use all the pockets on a backpack to more evenly distribute the weight.

If your child is experiencing back, neck or shoulder pain, make an appointment with your family doctor.

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