Fuqua students learn backpack guidelines

Published 12:52 pm Thursday, October 22, 2015

How heavy is too heavy?  According to recommended guidelines, a backpack should weigh no more than 10 percent of the student’s body weight. Fuqua School students recently had the opportunity to see if their packs were in the healthy zone. 

“This demonstrates how much Fuqua cares about the health and well-being of the students,” said Dr. Ellen Hudgins, occupational therapist and president of Progressive Therapy. 

National School Backpack Awareness Day is sponsored by the American Occupational Therapy Association; Progressive Therapy was onsite at Fuqua School to offer expertise, advice and awareness worksheets offering tips for proper fitting.

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All students grades 6-12 were weighed and advised what their backpack should weigh, based on the student’s actual weight.  Of those weighed, only 14 percent fell within the recommended guidelines for safe backpack weight. 

An overview of the results was given to the students, along with a review of proper fitting and wearing guidelines. Head of School John Melton appreciated Dr. Hudgins’ spending time and sharing knowledge with students. 

“The growing weight of student backpacks is a concern, and one that we hopefully will be able to address through a number of measures.  Thank you for heightening our awareness to this important issue,” Melton said.