NATIONAL SCHOOL BACKPACK AWARENESS DAY COMES TO BOSTON AREA SCHOOLS

Thursday, September 19, 2002

Boston --- In honor of National School Backpack Awareness Day on Wednesday, September 25, 2002, Karen Jacobs, a Boston University occupational therapy professor and former president of the American Occupational Therapy Association, will be conducting “weigh-ins” at two Boston area schools to ensure that the weight of kids’ backpacks exceeds no more than 15% of their body weight, as recommended by the American Occupational Therapy Association.

Professor Jacobs and representatives from Boston University will be at the Graham and Parks Alternative School in Cambridge, MA from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and at Drewicsz Elementary School in Lynn, MA from noon to 1:30 p.m. Jacobs will be available for on camera interviews that day.

"Occupational therapists are in our nation's schools every day. And we're worried about the relatively new but increasingly serious problem posed by improper school backpack use. Inaction is no option. We risk doing long-term damage to our kids' growing bodies by remaining silent on this public health issue. Schools, parents and occupational therapists must work together now to reduce the risk faced by our nation's children,” says Jacobs.

One study conducted by Jacobs supports the effectiveness of backpack education. According to this study almost 8 out of 10 middle school children who had been educated on backpack safety subsequently changed how they loaded their backpacks and ultimately, reported less pain and strain in their backs, necks, and shoulders.

Karen Jacobs is a sought after ergonomics expert who champions backpack and computer safety for children. She conducts research, writes, and speaks about these topics regularly. She is a clinical professor of occupational therapy at Boston University’s Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and the former president of the American Occupational Therapy Association.

Boston University’s Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences is an institution of higher education and research whose premier academic programs prepare dynamic health professionals and whose research and leadership is the health and rehabilitation sciences is actively shaping health care. For more information about Sargent College and to learn about their degree programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy, communication disorders, health sciences, athletic training, nutrition, and rehabilitation counseling, visit http://www.bu.edu/sargent.