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Carryingtheworldonyoungshoulders Avoidbackinjuriesbypickingtherightbackpack F indingtherightbackpackis an essential component of back-to-school shopping. Children may have their own ideas of what's in style, but parents should look for backpacks that are functional before factoring in style. Depending on school schedules, students may be carrying backpacks for up to 10 hours per day, five days per week. Backpacks may be filled with several pounds of stuff, such as textbooks, binders, laptops, and other supplies, potentially leading to injury. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, at least 14,000 children are treated for backpack-related injuries every year. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons says that the weight of a backpack should not exceed 10 to 15 percent of a child's body weight. Improperly sized, worn and over- stuffed backpacks can injure joints and lead to neck, back and shoulder injuries. They also may affect children's posture. Choose a streamlined model. Select a backpack that will get the job done without much added bulk. Many backpacks have been designed to hold technological devices as more and more schools integrate technology into the classroom. A less bulky bag might be lighter and easy to carry. Consider shopping at a sporting goods store. Employees at camping and sporting goods retailers understand how to fit backpacks for hikers and outdoor adventurers. They can help measure a student and find a pack that will fit his or her body frame. Select a pack with a waist strap. According to the American Chiropractic Association, the body is not designed to carry items hanging from shoulders. By using the waist strap in conjunction with taut shoulder straps, students can distribute the weight in their backpacks over their hip bones instead of the shoulders. The padded and adjustable shoulder straps should be at least two inches wide. Backpacks should be loaded properly. Heavy items should be near the center bottom to distribute the load, rather than placed on top. Students should only carry what is necessary, visiting lockers or desks as needed to lighten their packs. n YOURCHILD'SJOURNEY BEGINSHERE OSHERMARINJCC | 200 N. SAN PEDRO RD. | SAN RAFAEL | MARINJCC.ORG SWIMLESSONS FAMILY FITNESS PRESCHOOL YEAR-ROUND CAMPS AFTER SCHOOL PARENT & TODDLER CLASSES • COLLEGE PREP CURRICULUM W I T H A C R E AT I V E A P P R O A C H • M E A N I N G F U L M E N T O R S H I P S • C O U R S E W O R K T H AT G O E S B E Y O N D T H E C L A S S R O O M • F O C U S O N W E L L -B E I N G A N D S O C I A L - E M O T I O N A L G R O W T H independenthighschool since1980 Seeusinaction! scheduleyourvisittoday: www.themarinschool.org/admissions open house saturday,october6th 10:00amto12:00pm smallschool bigimpact A Marketing Supplement of the Marin Independent Journal | marinij.com Back to School July 22, 2018 13

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