9-7-11
Tips for Parents and Educators on School Backpack Safety
September 21, 2011 is National School Backpack Awareness Day
Bethesda, MD—Low back pain experienced by children and teens can often carry that pain into adulthood.
The American Occupational Therapy Association recommends that a child’s backpack weigh no more than 10% of the child’s body weight.
Preventing pain from occurring in childhood and adolescence is one goal of AOTA’s backpack safety awareness campaign. September 21, 2011 is National School Backpack Awareness Day™.
As families shop for school backpacks, AOTA offerstips on what to look for and how to pack backpacks.
Resources for parents, educators and health professionals are available here.
Parents and other adults can learn safe ways to tote briefcases and purses, too.
Founded in 1917, the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) represents the professional interests and concerns of more than 140,000 occupational therapists, assistants, and students nationwide. The Association educates the public and advances the profession of occupational therapy by providing resources, setting standards including accreditations, and serving as an advocate to improve health care. Based in Bethesda, Md., AOTA’s major programs and activities are directed toward promoting the professional development of its members and assuring consumer access to quality services so patients can maximize their individual potential. For more information, go to www.aota.org.
