Backpack Safety for Children

It is reported that there are 10,000 backpack related visits to physicians and emergency rooms annually.1 The problem comes from overloading backpacks with too much weight combined with the improper use of the backpack. Studies show that over 90% of children carry backpacks to and from school.2 Unfortunately 34% of students said their parents had never checked the backpack contents, and only 4% of parents had ever weighed their child’s pack. 1

Please, weigh your child’s backpack and use the following guidelines to ensure it is being used properly.

  • Loaded backpack should be 10-15% of your child’s body weight, maximum.
  • Shoulder Straps:
    • -Thick and Wide straps are best
    -Both shoulder straps should be used
    -Tighten straps to hold the pack close to the body
  • Heavy items should be packed near the body for the greatest efficiency.

1 Forjuoh SN, Little D, et al. Parental knowledge of school backpack weight and contents. Archives of Disease and Childhood 2003:88, pp. 18-19.
2 Macias BR, Murthy G, Chambers H, et al. High contact pressure beneath backpack straps of children contributes to pain. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine December 2005;159:1186-1187.



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