Viva Vitality: Put your back into safety

By Medicine Hat News on September 21, 2018.

Back to school means busy schedules, returning to routines, and endless carpooling for parents. With such busy schedules, it is essential to keep in mind ways to keep your children safe as they return to school. There are various things we can do to prevent and reduce the severity of an injury.

For example, something simple yet effective is educating your child on backpack safety. I remember when I was younger having a cross-shoulder backpack, and loving it until my shoulders ached. Equipping your children with the proper gear can help protect them against injury, allowing your children to keep moving injury free, and succeed in the new school year.

It’s always surprising how much someone can fit into a backpack, and as the school year gets moving, packs can become quite heavy, increasing the risk for a potential injury. According to MyHealth Alberta (2017) when purchasing a backpack look for something that meets the following standards:

* Light in weight

* Contains wide, padded shoulder straps

* Has many compartments

* Has a waist belt

* Padded back

* Wheels

When shopping for a new backpack, look for products made of materials like nylon or canvas as opposed to leather, which looks great, but is going to be heavier for your child to carry. Backpacks with wide, padded shoulder straps will help prevent the straps from digging into your child’s back. Having the option of a waist belt will help distribute some of the weight from the back to the hips, and having more compartments will allow for easier weight distribution. Choosing a pack with a padded back will also prevent any sharp objects — like the edges of binders — from digging into your child’s back. Lastly, wheels are an excellent option if your child needs to carry a heavy load, but before purchasing one check your child’s school policy to see if wheeled backpacks are allowed.

Having a supportive backpack is not going to guarantee the prevention of an injury so parents must educate their children on how to wear their gear correctly. Follow these steps to a better fitting backpack:

Wear the Gear: Make sure that the pack is being worn correctly and that both straps are worn at all times. MyHealth Alberta (2017) also recommends that children carry a maximum load of 15-20 per cent of their body weight.

Buckle Up: Tighten the straps, so they are even while also ensuring the waist belt is done up correctly to help distribute the weight.

Seek Help: If you child is suffering from back or neck pain, talk to a medical professional.

Going back to school should be fun and exciting! Don’t let books get in the way of being a kid. Wear the proper gear, buckle it up correctly, and speak up if you need any help.

For more information about backpack safety, visit: myhealth.alberta.ca/health/pages/conditions.aspx?Hwid=abk0958