Children risk serious back injury due to overladen schoolbags

Thousands of children are suffering crippling back pain as a result of carrying heavy schoolbags.

MPs are urging the Government to introduce health and safety guidelines to limit the number of books that children carry and to ensure all schools provide lockers.

Experts say that children risk injury if they carry more than 10 to 20 per cent of their body weight.

However, research based on interviews with 1,000 secondary schoolchildren carried out by BackCare, a back pain charity, has shown that up to 80 per cent of children are carrying too much in ill-designed bags.

In some cases, children carry bags weighing up to 25kg - more than 60 per cent of their body weight. The research also revealed that 40 per cent of secondary schools do not provide lockers.

BackCare is now supporting a campaign led by Lady Sylvia Hermon, MP for Down North, for legislation. The Ulster Unionist MP, supported by the Irish Children's Commissioner, has already urged the Department of Health to introduce new safeguards.

Lady Hermon said she decided to act after her son developed backache as a result of carrying a heavy schoolbag. She has since been inundated with calls from parents anxious about their children's health.

The MP said: "An average schoolbag can weigh 11kg. No adult would be expected to carry around such a weight five days a week because they are covered by health and safety guidelines, but children are not.

"Unless the Government takes action, we are only a step away from someone taking legal action over this issue."

The greater number of lessons being crammed into the school timetable means that children are required to carry more books around with them for lessons.

Nia Taylor, chief executive of BackCare, said this has led to more complaints from concerned parents. The charity has now patented a schoolbag designed to protect children's backs. It features a curved back panel to take the pressure away from nerve endings.

Tim Hutchful, a member of the British Chiropractic Association, said that children should carry no more than 10 to 15 per cent of their body weight and that bags should be carried high up and close to their back.

He said: "Children's back problems are growing, and carrying school bags is one factor contributing to this. Others include the furniture in bags, children watching too much television, playing computer games and diet.

"I ask children who have back pain to bring their schoolbags with them. Parents are often amazed at how heavy they are."

Heavy load

Edan Tal carries a full schoolbag around with him all day. He says his shoulders and back can hurt, especially if he carries his bag just on the one shoulder - the most fashionable way to carry a rucksack.

"I try to carry my bag on my back with both straps as otherwise it does really hurt," says the 12-year-old from South Manchester.

"A lot of the kids have bags with only one strap as it looks good."

What is in his bag?

1 large pencil box

1 geometry set

1 English textbook

2 French textbooks

1 science textbook

1 history textbook

1 English exercise book

1 French exercise book

1 hardback school diary

1 novel

1 Discman and CD

PE kit including swimming towel and trainers

Total weight: 8.2kg

Annabel Fallon