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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2003 THE NEW TANNER - Bealert! Watch for kids crossing! Achilles © mazda 357 Queen St. (Hwy 7) Acton, ON 519-853-0200 info@achillesmazda.ca Braida 5 Henny BARRISTERS & SOLICITORS Serving the Community for over 40 Years 67 Mill Street East, Acton 853-1160 Stephen A ttwell Susan Geads ()intner's Cellar Acton 41 Mill St. East Acton, Ontario L7J 1H1 Tel.: (519) 853-2255 Fax.: (519) 853-9574 Pete's Auto Paint Ltd. Custom Paint & Bodywork® 519-856-9356 4923 7th Line, Eramosa RR* 4 Rockwood ON NOB 2KO Over 30 years experience Licensed Plumber ¢ Residential ¢ Commercial ¢ Industrial Repairs & Renovations -- Gas Piping -- Well Pumps Installation & Repairs -- Drain Cleaning Call "ie } Ya~ ACTON (519) 853-1805 Serving Georgetown & Acton x S Mes | PLIMBING | g Knights of Columbus YY St. Joseph's Council - Acton We love our children... Please Drive Safely! Heavy Duty Underlift Available 24 Hr. Emergency Service & Repairs 1-800-363-2209 (905) 854-0169 (905) 854-2180 Backpacks can impact child's health By DR. JOANNE DAVIS As the new school year is on the threshold, many parents will be purchasing school supplies. One sup- ply in particular, the backpack, can have a sig- nificant effect-on your child's health. Many peo- ple don't realize the impact that backpacks can have on a child's health and the im- portance of both buying the proper pack and fearing it correctly. Kids think it's "cool" to strap on their backpacks and head out to school. But if they don't know exactly how to choose, load, lift and wear them, these all- important accessories can be a pain in the back. Lit- erally. Not to mention the neck, head, and shoulders. Can affect health Carrying a heavy load that is unevenly or improp- erly distributed can result in poor posture; and even distort the spinal column, throwing it out of align- ment. This can cause muscle strain, headaches, back, neck and arm pain, and even nerve damage. For example, a heavy backpack, carried on one shoulder, forces the mus- cles and spine to compensate for the uneven weight. This places stress on the mid and lower back, and may increase the like- lihood of back problems later in life. More than 50 per cent of young people experience at least one episode of lower back pain by their teenage years. Research indicates that this could be caused, to a great extent, by im- proper use of backpacks. Prevention key Here are a few pointers to help you help your school age children carry their load comfortably and safely: e Choose the _ right backpack: Forget leather! It looks great, but it's far too heavy. Go for vinyl or can- vas. Pick a pack that has two wide, adjustable, pad- ded shoulder straps, along with a hip or waist strap, padded back and plenty of pockets. Make sure the pack fits properly, is not too snug around the arms and under the armpits, and that its size is proportionate to the wearer's body. Packing it properly: They're not moving out! Make sure your children's packs contain only what is needed for that day, and that the weight is distrib- uted evenly. It's a good idea to know roughly what each item weighs. The total weight of the filled pack should be no more than 10 to 15 per cent of the wear- er's own body weight. Pack heaviest objects close to the body, and place bumpy or odd-shaped ones on the outside, away from the back. Putting the backpack on: It's a good idea to help young children with this, at least the first few times. Put the pack on a flat surface, at waist height. Slip on the pack, one shoulder at a WATERED Spectatésts -WATER SOFTENER -IRON FILTER ; -REVERSE OSMOSIS SYSTEM -ULTRA VIOLET LIGHT Janis Holley LEADERS IN: Water Treatment * Service * Dependability Free In-Home Consultations call e 519-853-4947 Over 35 YEARS COMBINED EXPERIENC pm SERVING ACTON AND fs SURROUNDING AREAS. time, then adjust the straps to fit comfortably. Remember when lifting a backpack, or anything, to lift using the arms and legs, and to bend at the knees. The right way to wear a backpack: Both shoulder straps should be used, and adjusted so that the pack fits snugly to the body, without dangling to the side. Backpacks should never be worn over just one shoulder. You, should be able to slide your hand be- tween the backpack and your child's back. The waist strap should also be worn for added stability. Students in Grades K to 8 should carry only 10% of their weight in their backpacks. Students in Grades 9 to 12 may carry up to 15% of their weight. How much does all the stuff that goes into a backpack actually weigh? Here is a list of typical items that students carry in their packs for your refer- ence: Shoes 1kg/2lbs, wet towel 1kg/2lbs, 6 text books 2.7kg/6lbs, 2 binders 1.5kg/3lbs, 20CDs 0.5kg/ 1lb, Game-Boy 0.25kg/ Se ee a _ COMMUNITY CHICKEN -- BARBECUE 0.5lbs, water bottle 0.25kg/ 0.5Ibs, sports gear 4.5kg/ 101bs, lunch/snacks 1kg/ 2lbs, laptop computer 2.7kg/6lbs. To calculate your child's maximum load: 1 Weigh your child and record it. 2 Figure out their maxi- mum load. It's 10% for Grades K-8 and 15% for Grades 9-12. So, if your child is in Grade 5 and weighs 90 pounds, the cal- culation is 0.1 x 90 = 9lbs, which is their maximum load. 3 Weigh the contents of the backpack. This can be done by simply placing the loaded pack on a bathroom scale. 4 Compare their maxi- mum load to the weight of the loaded pack. You may be surprised! If the load is over, it may be time to lighten the load! If your child does com- plain of back pain, numbness or weakness in his or her arms and legs, get 'help to prevent future prob- lems. Dr. Joanne Davis is a Chiropractor working at the Thompson Wellness Centre in Acton. NEED A: Competitive Pricing Superior Quality % Chicken (Maple Lodge) Homemade salads, and desserts. Friday September 12, 2003 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. At Acton Community Centre Adults $12, Senior $10, Children $5 (hotdog meal). Tickets available at The Acton Seniors' Centre & Halton Hills Furniture Sponsored by the Acton Seniors' Centre = = " = = = = "= = = = = "= " = "= "= " = PLT a me ih phe Ader UL LAs lath ea ee Roland Holley ILET US FIX YOUR WATER! WITH PRIDE AND CONVICTION! Come and see us at the Acton Trunk Sale ™