3 Tips for Backpack Safety This School Season
Make sure the backpack is not too heavy. A child’s backpack should not exceed 10% of their body weight. For example, a child who weights 100 pounds should not carry a backpack that is heavier than 15 pounds. It's also important to keep in mind that a backpack itself usually weighs between 1.5 to 3 pounds.
Load the backpack with the heaviest items first. Load the heaviest items into the backpack first, placing them closest to the body and putting the lightest items toward the front. If the backpack has multiple compartments use them to distribute the weight of the load more evenly.
A backpack should be proportional to the child's height and be fitted to the child's body. A backpack should not be so big that it overwhelms the child. The backpack should rest evenly on both shoulders.
The body of the backpack should fit snugly against the body in the middle of the back. The height of the backpack should extend about 2 inches below the shoulder blades to waist level, but should not hang down past the waist.
Shoulder straps should be wide and padded to reduce pressure on the shoulders. A child should always wear both straps on their shoulders and avoid carrying the backpack with only one strap as this can contribute to pain and injury. Tighten the shoulder straps to ensure the backpack is fitted to the body, which also keeps the load closer to the body and therefore less of a strain on the back.
