Hospital highlights

Back to school is a good time to also get back into healthy routines. A great way to spend time as a family and get exercise is to find group activities you can enjoy as a family. That might include walking, bike riding or skiing.

Not only do you get the benefits of physical activity, you also have the opportunity to talk to each other. Saturday, Sept. 28, is Family Health and Fitness Day. Plan a fun activity and get moving with the whole family!

Another back to school check should include the weight of your child’s backpack. If your child is experiencing shoulder, back or neck pain, evaluate their backpack.

While there is a low likelihood of permanent injury, kids do fall because their backpack is too heavy for their weight. A backpack should not exceed 15-20 percent of a child’s weight and 10 percent is recommended.

Despite their popularity, messenger bags with one strap across the chest are not ideal. Two straps distribute the weight more evenly across the child’s body.

Debbie Glass, CEO

Whitman Hospital & Medical Center