PRINTER'S NO. 740
No. 76 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY MELLOW, APRIL 23, 2003
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, APRIL 23, 2003
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating the month of April 2003 as "Backpack Safety
2 Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, The improper use of backpacks has a destructive
4 impact on the posture and spinal health of children; and
5 WHEREAS, According to a report from Simmons College in April
6 2001, 55% of students carry more than the recommended national
7 guidelines of 10% to 15% of body weight; and
8 WHEREAS, National Public Radio reported in 1998 that 65% of
9 adolescents' visits to doctors are for backpack-related
10 injuries; and
11 WHEREAS, The University of Michigan reported that up to 60%
12 of children will experience back pain by the time they reach 18
13 years of age; and
14 WHEREAS, The American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics has
15 stated that backpack injury is a significant problem for
16 children, with 58% of orthopedists having seen patients
17 complaining of back pain related to backpacks; and
1 WHEREAS, Doctors of Chiropractic are health professionals
2 well qualified to detect and correct structural distortions
3 caused by improper backpack use; and
4 WHEREAS, The Congress of Chiropractic State Associations has
5 designed a National Backpack Safety program to educate school
6 nurses, teachers, parents, school administrators, health care
7 providers and students about backpack injury and ways to prevent
8 it; therefore be it
9 RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the month of April 2003
10 as "Backpack Safety Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania and join
11 with the Congress of Chiropractic State Associations in
12 cautioning students not to overfill backpacks or carry items
13 that can be left at home or in school and that parents be aware
14 of what students are carrying in their backpacks.
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