OCTOBER 2004

 

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Occupational Therapy Conducts Backpack Awareness Day

Nationwide, more than 7,000 children end up in emergency rooms each year suffering injuries from backpacks and book bags. Experts estimate that over half of the 40 million plus school children in the United States carry too much weight in their backpacks. In addition to improperly worn backpacks, these heavy loads can cause children to experience neck, shoulder and back pain. These injuries can have adverse effects on posture and the developing spines of children. In addition, hauling heavy backpacks can compromise breathing and cause fatigue.

The ULM Occupational Therapy faculty and senior occupational therapy students recently partnered with the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) to conduct a Backpack Awareness Day to educate children, parents, school administrators, teachers, and communities about the serious health effects on children from backpacks that are too heavy or worn improperly. This local event was part of the National School Backpack Awareness Day held in schools and community centers across the country.

The Backpack Awareness Day “weigh-in” event, organized by Penny Jones, LOTR, Donna Eichhorn, LOTR, Carolyn Murphy, MA, LOTR, instructors at ULM; the ULM senior OT class; and Kacey Jones, 6^th grade teacher at Morehouse Magnet School was held on September 22 at the Morehouse Magnet School in Bastrop, La. It included a weigh-in of 101 fifth and sixth grade students and their backpacks.

As the students were weighed-in, they received a “backpack c.o.p.” badge.  After the weigh-in, the students participated in “ Backpack Police Academy ” which consisted of an educational PowerPoint presentation and a fun, interactive skit in which the 5^th and 6^th grade students had to “earn their badges”. Their training consisted of three phases: C - choose the right backpack; O - organize the contents; and P - pack it light, wear it right. Throughout the phases of the “academy training” the 5^th and 6^th grade students’ job was to assist the ULM backpack c.o.p. to identify and “ticket” potential backpack safety violators ( ULM students). After the presentation, each student was given a bag consisting of backpack safety information and items from local merchants and sponsors. Several door prizes, including six well-designed backpacks, were also given to prove that it pays to be a backpack “C.O.P.” A pre-test and post-test was administered to measure the effectiveness of the education and a second post-test will be administered in two months to complete data collection. Information regarding backpack strategies for schools was given to teachers and the principal.

“Overall, the day was a huge success,” Penny Jones said. “The 5^th and 6^th grade students really enjoyed the events and were able to demonstrate evidence of learning important safety information and healthy habits.”

Backpack Awareness Day events enabled the senior occupational therapy students to collaborate with peers and community resources for experience in program development, planning, and implementation. The day presented an excellent opportunity for OT students to provide a wellness and health promotion service to the community while gaining experience in articulating the nature and value of occupational therapy at age-appropriate levels to 5^th and 6^th graders. “The events gave ULM OT students an opportunity to provide a wellness and health promotion service to the community by targeting a young age group to prevent potential injuries in the future,” Carolyn Murphy said.

 AOTA recommends that school backpacks weigh no more than 15% of a child’s weight. The growing awareness of potential long-term problems to children has resulted in increased medical research, and more coverage of the issue in mainstream publications as well as medical journals.

Local community sponsors that helped make this event possible included Bastrop Printing & Office Products; International Paper Company; Wal-Mart; John Sibley, Century 21-Bastrop Realty; The Conley Agency; Christmas Enterprises; Mer Rouge State Bank; Tubbs Wrecker Service; Charles McDonald, State Representative; Kris McKoin, Edward Jones Investments; Johnny’s Pizza; Pizza Hut; and Sonic.

For more information on backpack safety contact Penny Jones, LOTR, at 342-1638.

 

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