Back to School Back Pack Safety

As the new school year approaches, parents and children planning their "back-to-school" lists are urged to keep backpack safety in mind.

Each year, about 6,000 children in the United States experience backpack-related injuries, Linda Rhodes, an occupational therapist at MCG Health Children's Medical Center in Augusta, Ga., explained in a news release from the medical center.

In an effort to cut down on the number of these injuries, Rhodes offers parents the following backpack safety advice:

• Choose a lightweight backpack that doesn't add too much to your child's load. The pack should have two wide, padded shoulder straps and a padded back that will improve comfort and protect your child from being poked by the sharp points and edges of pencils, pens, rulers and other objects they need to carry. 
   
• Select the proper size backpack for your child. It should cover no more than three-quarters of the length of your child's back.
   
• Load backpacks carefully. The maximum weight of a loaded pack should not be more than 15 percent of a child's body weight. Place the heaviest books closest to the back as they require the most body support. If a child has to lean forward to carry a pack, it's too heavy.
   
• Have your child wear the pack correctly. He or she should use both shoulder straps. Carrying a backpack on one shoulder puts too much strain on one side of the upper body. The straps should be snug, but not too tight. If a backpack has a waist strap, use it to help better support the load.

More information

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons has more about backpack safety.

Teaching your teens about distracted driving hazards

Via MattarMedia - We have been blogging about distracted driving since last week. The statistics show that teens are not getting the message about how dangerous and deadly the consequences really can be.

There are so many distractions that drivers need to be aware of - music, eating, cell phones, other people in the car, etc. As parents, we need to take the time to talk to our teenagers about safe driving techniques. Have your teen take this quiz to see how much they really know about the hazards of texting while driving. Then have them watch the graphic texting while driving video.

Most importantly, as parents we need to model safe driving in our own vehicles. Practice what you preach.

Strange stories about distracted driving

Via MattarMedia - We hear a lot of talk in the media about the problem of texting and driving, or cell phone use and driving, but what about other types of distracted driving? Most of us have witnessed another driver doing something ridiculous, like applying makeup, eating, or navigating with a large road map, while driving. Why are so many Americans convinced that driving is a great time to show off their multi-tasking skills?

A local radio call-in show covered this topic a few weeks ago. Callers shared some outrageous stories regarding distracted driving. We have a highlighted a couple here:

One caller recalled a story about driving behind a car that was swerving all over the road. When he found an opportunity to safely pass the driver, he discovered that she was reading! She had a hardcover novel spread out on the steering wheel and was actively reading it.

Another caller told the audience about a time when they passed a car and saw that the driver was brushing his teeth - complete with toothbrush, a tube of paste and a bottle of water (for rinsing, of course).

Do you have a distracted driving story that you would like to share? We would love to hear it - feel free to comment below.

Distracted driving kills people every day. Moral of the story: Just wait until you get where you are going. The time "saved" isn't worth the risk taken.

Distracted driving is still a serious problem for teen drivers

Via MattarMedia - Our latest blog topic is an issue that is receiving a lot of press coverage lately - distracted driving. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear to be getting any better, especially among teen drivers. Frightening statistics show that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers (claiming more lives than drugs, alcohol, suicide, or violence combined.)

AAA recently collaborated with Seventeen Magazine in a poll to find out more about teen driving habits. While more than 80% of teens admitted that distracted driving was dangerous, an alarming 86% admitted to engaging in some act of distracted driving.

More details about the study are available here, along with some great suggestions from AAA on how to talk with your teen to combat this serious problem.