Welcome to Living Well with Dr. Laurie. Happy Labor Day to you all!! I am glad you decided to drop by! It’s time for a new school year. My friends tell me their children keep asking for larger backpacks because they don’t have time to go to their locker at school or they need to carry their laptop with them.  Read this before you purchase a new backpack! With a new school year beginning soon, two orthopaedic groups have released tips to help kids avoid backpack-related injuries.The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America warn that wearing a backpack that is too heavy or improperly positioned could result in sprains, strains or posture problems. Best practices to avoid injuries:

• Carry no more than 15-20 percent of their body weight.
• Use both shoulder straps and adjust them to keep the load close to the back.
• Remove items if the backpack is too heavy and pack the heaviest things low and in the center.
• If possible, leave books at home or school instead of carrying them back and forth.

Parents also can help by purchasing the right-size backpack for their child, and asking if their child has any numbness or tingling in the arms, which could indicate the backpack is too heavy or fits poorly.

So after I picked up my daughter’s backpack and almost fell over from the weight, I ordered her a new and SMALLER one with sturdy straps!

Don’t forget to take my school safety quiz if you haven’t already. There is a reward for you once you complete it!!   Join me tomorrow when we talk about students and computers!

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