Five Tips to Prevent Back-to-School Backpack Overload

Each year, tens of millions of kids head off to school with backpacks full of books and
supplies, according to the American Occupational Therapy Association. Thousands of
those kids will end up with injuries caused by those packs.
It sounds ridiculous, but imagine an 80-pound child carrying a 20-pound backpack (yes,
it happens). How well would your back hold up lugging around 25% of your weight in
books every day?
Fortunately, more and more parents and schools are aware of the damage heavy
backpacks can cause. Here are five things the National Safety Council says you can do to
make sure your student’s academic workload doesn’t turn into a physical one as well:
 
1. Watch for warning signs. A backpack might be too heavy if your child struggles
to put it on or take it off, changes posture while wearing it or feels pain, tingling
or numbness.
 
2. Check the weight. A good rule of thumb: Kids’ backpacks should not weigh more
than 5 to 10 percent of their body weight. Any more than that and they run the
risk of bending forward while carrying it, which can put stress on the back,
according to the American Chiropractic Association.
 
3. Get the right pack. The fit of a backpack is extremely important. Shoulder straps
should be wide and padded for comfort, and the pack should never hang more
than four inches below the waistline. A comfortable backpack encourages proper
use, so that kids aren’t carrying packs around by one strap, which can lead to
neck or back problems. And watch the size, too! Getting a backpack with too
much room can encourage overloading.
 
4. Don’t just throw stuff in. Make sure kids put some thought into what they pack.
They should only carry what they need for the day and leave things they don’t
need at home. And pack it well. Distributing weight evenly increases comfort and
safety.
 
5. Be vocal. Talk to your child’s teacher or a school administrator if you need help
getting the weight down. There may be solutions, such as bringing home
handouts or workbooks instead of heavy textbooks.
 
A little bit of thought can make a big difference when it comes to backpack safety. And
those lighter loads make for happier — and healthier — kids. Here’s to a great school
year!


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Insurance Tips for Millennials 
You keep your car filled up with gas so you don’t get stranded on the side of the road. And, your phone charged so your loved ones can reach you. But, what kind of safety measures do you have in place for more extreme scenarios? 
What if you lost everything you owned in a fire at your house or your apartment? What if your car were stolen? These situations are scary, but your insurance can help you through them, and much more, so long as you have the right coverage in place. 
So, what’s right for you? Whether you’re starting out on your own or starting a family, these tips can help you begin to understand the level of insurance you may need.

Welcome to our new insurance agency blog!
 
This is our very first post. We're not quite sure what we're going to write about here, but the plan is to create helpful content for customers and prospective clients about information that is relevant to you.
 
We hope you'll come to view this as a top resource for keeping your family and your finances safe.
 
Here are a few of the topics we may be writing about:

• Answers to clients' frequently asked questions.
• Helpful information about insurance shopping.
• Safety and Health Tips and Ideas.
• Local Community Information.

 
Stay Tuned!