Brendan Daugherty bought a new school backpack at The Finish Line at Meadowbrook Mall Wednesday afternoon. As he and his family exited the store, they were surprised to be met by a team of medical professionals who were there for the very purpose of educating students about the correct way to load and wear a backpack. 

 

A freshman at Buckhannon-Upshur High School, Daugherty said the timing was perfect and that he learned a thing or two. 

 

"I didn't know that you're only supposed to carry 10 percent of your body weight and that wearing the belly strap could help so much," he said. 

 

Daugherty said he will apply what he learned and likely share the tips with some of his friends.

 

That's the whole idea behind the Backpack Awareness event hosted by United Hospital Center Family Medicine 12-5 p.m. at Meadowbrook Mall. The team was at the mall about a month ago during a mallwide event which focused on student health and wellness, said Kim Signorelli of Family Medicine, but brought their information back to the mall for Wednesday's event which coincided with National Backpack Awareness Week. 

 

A number of educational handouts were available and several Family Medicine professionals were on hand to offer their expert advice.

Victorico Singzon, M.D. said educating kids is what he likes best about his profession. He also said that being proactive and wearing a backpack correctly can prevent a myriad of problems. It's really important, for example, to choose a backpack with wide straps so as not to press upon nerves and  potentially cause numbness. 

 

"And wear both straps, not just one, to distribute the weight evenly," he said. "When wearing the backpack on one side, the weight presses down, causing muscle strain in that area."

 

It's also important, Singzon said, to place heavier objects toward the back of the backpack, closer to the body. And like Daugherty said, using the waist strap included with some backpacks keeps the load secure and everything in place. 

 

Singzon said information was well-received by students and parents who visited the mall on Wednesday. So were the candy treats that were shared with visiting kids. 

 

Read more about the Backpack Awareness Event and read more tips HERE in a press release previously posted on Connect-Bridgeport.