Occupational Therapists Promote Backpack Awareness |
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August 11, 2006
by AJ Fanter
ajfanter@healthcare-programs.com
Healthcare Programs Columnist
Featuring the slogan,"Pack it Light, Wear it Right," September 20 is National School Backpack Awareness Day. Developed and promoted by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), this day is designed to draw attention to the serious health effects that the improper use of a backpack can have on a child's health.
According to the AOTA, in 2001, more than 7,000 emergency room visits were related to backpacks and book bags. Which is one of the reasons why over 930 occupational therapists organized awareness building events last year.
The Occupational Therapist's Nemesis...the Overloaded Backpack
Along with addressing the roll occupational therapists play in both the education and healthcare fields, the primary aim of National School Backpack Awareness Day is to focus the attention of parents, students, and teachers on the actual amount of weight a student should carry in their backpack. Occupational therapists recommend that student never carry more than 15% of their body weight in a book back, but as many as 1 in 10 students carries 33% of their body weight in their backpack. This is over twice the weight that occupational therapists recommend, and these overloaded backpacks are the primary reason for those numerous ER visits as well as the many other injuries that occupational therapists are called upon to treat.
What is Occupational Therapy Anyway?
According to the AOTA, the role of occupational therapy professionals is to help others achieve independence by helping them to develop "skills of living." Those who work in the field of occupational therapy design treatment programs to help their patient's perform daily activities. They also perform home and work-site evaluations to assist patients with adaptation, and they assist with work-related injuries including lower back problems and repetitive stress injuries (hence their involvement with National School Backpack Awareness Day).
If you're looking for a rewarding career helping others to improve their daily living skills, then occupational therapy could be the ideal healthcare program for you.
Sources
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Therapists
National School Backpack Awareness Day
About the Author
AJ Fanter is a freelance writer based in Reno, NV.
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