Backpack Safety Facts

Loading a Backpack

• Never carry more than 15% of your body weight in your backpack. If you weigh 100 pounds you shouldn't wear a loaded backpack heavier than 15 pounds.
• Load heaviest items closest to the back. Pack items neatly, and keep them organized to keep books and materials from sliding around in the pack and shifting the weight.

Wearing a Backpack

• Always wear both shoulder straps to distribute weight evenly. Wearing a pack slung over one shoulder can cause a person to lean to one side and curve the spine.
• Adjust the shoulder straps so that the pack fits snugly to your back. A pack that hangs loosely from the back can pull you backward and strain the muscles between the shoulders.
• The bottom of the pack should rest in the curve of the lower back. It should never rest more than four inches below the waistline.