Backpacks here. Backpacks there. Backpacks practically everywhere. Toddlers wear them for the sake of wearing them, often empty and in the shape of cartoon characters. Elementary school-age kids pile everything they have into them. High school kids use them as fashion statements; it doesn’t matter what’s in them.
But for parents, there are health and safety issues to consider.
1. Loads on backs should not exceed 20% of the child’s body weight. Lesser loads, 10 to 15%, are recommended for backpack beginners, long trips, going uphill, climbing stairs, walking on tough terrain, and in hot weather.
2. Backpacks that are too heavy or worn incorrectly may cause back problems. (However, there is no evidence that these problems cause permanent deformities.) In the US, more than 7,000 backpack-related injuries are seen in emergency rooms each year, with many more seen in doctors’ offices. Approximately half of the cases are in children. Upper and lower back pain and shoulder pain, sometimes severe, are the most common symptoms.
3. Choose function before fashion. Opt for backpacks with shoulder straps that are wide, contoured, and padded to prevent straps from digging into the shoulders. Straps should be adjustable so that the backpack rests snuggly against the back, can be put on and taken off easily, and doesn’t interfere with arm movement.
4. Waist straps help keep backpacks in place. When straps are too loose, backpacks dangle uncomfortably. Ideally, the backpack should rest two inches above the waist. Padding in the backpack protects wearers from objects inside. The lighter the backpack, the more weight can safely be placed in it.
5. Discourage children from wearing backpacks on one shoulder. This fad is now in vogue – and even young children are surprisingly fashion-conscious. Weight should be distributed equally. Numerous compartments simplify weight distribution. Place heavier objects at the bottom, near the center, and up against the back.
6. Tuck in straps. Some backpacks, especially ones designed for small children, have long straps to fit children of various sizes. Long straps may cause tripping, become entangled in branches or get caught in doors.
7. Watch your child for backpack “dysfunction.” The aches and pains resulting from wearing new backpacks is not a necessary adjustment period. Discomforts ought to be investigated before they become worse. Investigate red marks on kids’ shoulders or complaints of tingling or numbness in their arms. Backpacks are too heavy when children have difficulty putting them on, lean to one side while wearing them, or bend forward with their heads down to balance them. This can cause children to topple over, especially on stairs.
8. Consider rolling backpacks. Wheels allow children to roll backpacks where feasible. Handles on wheeled backpacks should be sufficiently long so that children can stand fully upright when pulling them. Some schools have banned wheeled backpacks as being dangerous on stairs and not fitting into lockers.
9. Put backpacks on correctly. Children should bend at the knees, not at the waist, while keeping the trunk of the body straight and stable. They should push up using their leg muscles and keep the backpack close to the body. Excessive twisting and turning may indicate that the backpack is too heavy or the wrong model. Some children find it advantageous to place backpacks on a chair or table (depending on the child’s height), before placing them on their backs.
10. Avoid backpack-related injuries to others. Fully loaded backpacks protrude more than a foot. Bystanders, in the aisles of school buses or on airplanes, for example, have been knocked over when a backpack wearer suddenly turns around. People at airports trip over backpacks carelessly left on the floor.
