Rhinebeck, NY (PRWEB) August 26, 2014
Kids are back in school, with a busy schedule that includes sports, playground fun, and other physically demanding activities. With youngsters spending lots of time outdoors, participating in leagues, and toting around heavy backpacks all day, strains, sprains, muscle pulls, and other mishaps are sure to follow. In fact, data from the most recent National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey show that an annual average of 11.9 million injury-related emergency department visits were made by children and adolescents age 18 and under.
While injuries are a part of growing up, parents arent always sure which treatment options are safe and effective for their children, especially given the side effects of over-the-counter chemical-based pain pills and the side effects and allergic reactions many kids have to smelly, greasy, and messy topical ointments.
Lou Paradise, president and chief of research of Topical BioMedics, Inc., urges parents to consider the following safety tips to help protect their children from pain and injury and keep them out of the emergency room.
PLAYING IT SAFE
–Children should have a physical exam before participating in sports and always wear the proper protective equipment. Be sure your child stretches and warms up muscles prior to activity to help prevent injuries.
–Clothing and shoes should fit properly. Loose clothes can catch in playground equipment, and properly fitted footwear minimizes the risk of falling or tripping.
–Small children should be supervised at the playground or while playing outside at home.
–Bullying is now epidemic. An adult should accompany younger children to the bus stop to avoid episodes of roughhousing.
Even with precautions, kids have accidents, and there are times when pain and injuries are unavoidable. Moreover, 25% – 40% of children aged 3-5 and 8-12 experience growing pains.
Parents need to be armed with a safe, effective, and natural pain product made just for youngsters, which is why I developed Topricin for Children, a soothing cream formula free of parabens, petroleum, chemicals, and counter irritants, says Mr. Paradise. Odorless and greaseless, it works to supports and assists the body in the healing process to help reduce inflammation, detoxify and stimulate blood flow that increases oxygenation of the skin to speed healing and relieve aches and pains. Ive used Topricin on my own children, and they now use it on my grandchildren.
AVOID THE HAZARDS OF SCHOOL BACKPACKS
While a backpack is the most popular and practical way for students to carry their books and school supplies, backpacks that are too heavy or worn incorrectly can cause serious back, neck and shoulder pain, and also cause children to lose their balance and fall. The risk of injury and pain can be avoided by choosing a well-fitting backpack and following proper packing procedures.
Mr. Paradise offers the following tips for backpack safety to make back-to-school time safer and less painful for students.
Make sure backpacks fit properly and have padded backs and straps.
Children should wear BOTH strapsslinging a backpack over one shoulder can strain muscles.
Teach your child to pack light and only carry what is necessary to avoid any excess weight.
A backpack should weigh no more than 10% -15% of the childs body weight.
The backpacks straps should fit snuggly over the childs shoulders.
Parents should pick up their childs backpack on a regular basis to gauge its weight.
Make sure the backpack is positioned on the back between the shoulders and not resting on the childs lower back or hips.
Tighten the straps so the pack sits close to the body.
Organize the pack carefully, positioning heavier items closet to the center of the back.
If your child is complaining about aches and pains, apply Topricin Junior Pain Relief and Healing Creama safe and effective, natural biomedicine formula for children thats free of parabens, petroleum, and other harsh chemicals and with no side effects, odor or grease. (More information at http://www.topricin.com).
If your child is experiencing back pain, weakness or numbness in the arms or legs, be sure to speak with your doctor.
FEATURES TO LOOK FOR WHEN CHOOSING A BACKPACK
When shopping for a backpack, be sure look for the following features:
Two shoulder straps to distribute weight evenly.
Wide, padded shoulder straps that wont dig into shoulders causing pain and cutting off circulation.
Padded back provides more comfort and protects children from being poked by sharp objects inside the backpack.
Backpack should be made of durable, lightweight material.
Waist belt to distribute the weight more evenly across the body.
SIGNS THAT A BACKPACK IS TOO HEAVY
Mr. Paradise states, A 1999 study showed that more than half the children carried backpacks weighing more than the recommended 15% of their body weight. That same year, emergency rooms saw more than 3,3000 backpack-related injuries in children between the ages of five and 14a number that does not include youngsters who went to family physicians or chiropractors to treat their injuries. This problem can be eliminated by making parents and students aware of backpack safety procedures.
Most importantly, Mr. Paradise says it is important for parents to look for signs that their childs back is too heavy and take steps to ensure their back safety.
Signs to look for include:
A change in your childs posture when wearing the backpack
Struggling to put the backpack on or take it off
Pain when wearing the backpack
Red marks from the shoulder straps after the backpack has been removed.
NATIONAL BACKPACK AWARENESS DAY
On the third Wednesday in September, occupational therapy practitioners and students celebrate the American Occupational Therapy Associations National School Backpack Awareness Day. This initiative was created to educate parents and students about the serious health risks of backpacks that are too heavy or worn improperly so they can avoid pain and injury. This years event takes place on September 17th. For information and resource materials, visit http://www.aota.org/Practitioners/Awareness/School-Backpack-Awareness.aspx
ABOUT TOPICAL BIOMEDICS, INC.
20 years in business and a Certified B Corporation, Topical BioMedics is a research and development leader in topical patented natural biomedicines for pain relief. The companys flagship product, Topricin
Back-to-School Days Dont Have to be a Pain: Topical BioMedics Offers Tips for Keeping Kids Safer and Healthier is a post from: Intervention Therapy