The Hidden Dangers Posed by Backpacks

As summer begins to wrap up, millions of children throughout the country will be heading back to school to further their education. But there's a hidden danger associated with this time of year that often goes unnoticed: backpacks. The thought of sustaining an injury simply by wearing a backpack may sound rare, but it happens more than most people realize.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), more than 5,000 children visit hospital emergency rooms each year for backpack-related injuries, and more than 14,000 children receive treatment for such injuries. Statistics such as this attest to the dangerous implications of wearing a backpack -- something that's required by many students.

This begs the question: how are backpacks causing these injuries and what can parents do to prevent them? The problem with backpacks is that it places stress on the wearer's back. Over time, the constant weight added to a student's back can lead to back and neck pain, as well as posture problems,

"The most important thing is to buy a backpack that has great padding. You want to use both straps to evenly distribute the weight," explained Dr. Kevin Campbell when speaking to WNCN news. "What you want to know about backpack safety is that when you weigh your child, weigh the backpack. It should be no heavier than 15 percent of that child’s body weight. If it’s heavier, you need to take something out of that backpack."

Does this mean that you should discourage your child from wearing a backpack to school? Not necessarily, as many schools -- public and private -- require them. And going against the school's rules could lead you in hot water. Taking some simple steps will reduce your child's risk of sustaining an injury while allowing him or her to continue wearing a backpack.

The key thing to remember is that the heavier backpacks pose the greatest risk to a child's health. So in order to minimize the risk to your child's health, you should try to reduce the weight of which they are carrying. Ask your child's teacher to see which books he or she can leave in the classroom. Rather than hauling all of their books to and from class, perhaps your child can leave at least some of them in the classroom.