DAYTONA BEACH, FL (Sept. 19, 2011) – Students in the Occupational Therapy Assistant program at Daytona State College will “weigh-in” on backpack issues during an annual event to promote the 15 percent rule for maximum weight being carried in a backpack.
This year’s event takes place on Wednesday, Sept. 21, between 1 and 3 p.m. OTA students will encourage students and visitors to the Daytona Beach Campus to have their backpacks, book bags, briefcases and purses weighed; participants will also be weighed to determine if the recommended weight of 15 percent of total body is being exceeded.
“The National School Backpack Awareness Day is a great opportunity to demonstrate how occupational therapy can help individuals of all ages to live life to its fullest,” said OTA Academic Clinical Coordinator Shirish Lala.
Bring your backpacks to the courtyard in front of the Lenholt Student Center (bldg. 130) on the Daytona Beach Campus located at 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd.
According to the American Occupational Therapy Association, more than 79 million students in the United States carry backpacks, and about 55 percent of students carry a backpack that is heavier than the recommended guideline of 15 percent of the student’s total body weight.
The AOTA has published 10 tips to avoid backpack-related health problems:
1. Never let a child carry more than 15 percent of his or her body weight. This means a child who weighs 100 pounds shouldn't wear a backpack heavier than 15 pounds.
2. Load heaviest items closest to the child's back and arrange books and materials to prevent them from sliding.
3. Always wear both shoulder straps. Wearing only one strap can cause a child to lean to one side, curving the spine and causing pain or discomfort.
4. Select a pack with well-padded shoulder straps. Too much pressure on shoulders and necks can cause pain and tingling.
5. Adjust the shoulder straps so that the pack fits snugly to the child's back. The bottom of the pack should rest in the curve of the lower back, never more than four inches below the child's waistline.
6. Use the waist belt, if the backpack has one, to help distribute the pack's weight more evenly.
7. Check what your child carries to school and brings home to make sure the items are necessary to the day's activities.
8. If the backpack is too heavy, consider using a book bag on wheels if your child's school allows it.
9. Choose the right size pack for your child's back as well as one with enough room for necessary school items.
10. If a student is experiencing back pain or neck soreness, consult your physician or occupational therapist.
For additional information about the National School Backpack Awareness Day visit www.AOTA.org, or for more information about the OTA program at Daytona State call (386) 506-3850.
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