Saudi Gazette

What is the most important thing to take with you when you are going to school? Is it your lunchbox or your books? No! The most important thing is your backpack. Backpack carries your lunch box, books and stationary inside of it.

It helps you to assemble and keep things together. Whether you move around between classes, or stay in one; your backpack always helps you. Even if you are going on a trip, or staying at a friend’s place your backpack will hold everything you need while leaving your hands free.

Backpacks are helpful and there are no reasons you should not be carrying one. However, you need to take care a bit otherwise it could be dangerous.

• While walking around in school or in a bus make sure you backpack doesn’t hurt anyone.

• Someone can fall by tripping over it if you don’t keep it properly in class.

• Take the books or stuff required in your backpack. Unnecessary weight can hurt your back, neck or shoulders.

• Keep it clean and organized so that you don’t get lost in it. People fill their backpacks with so many things that it even starts stinking.

Things to keep in mind for using the backpack:

• Buy a backpack that is light and waterproof.

• If you have to lean forward, it means the straps are not tight.

• Don’t have everything in it, including an elephant.

• Clean it up regularly. Half-finished lunches and rotten apples make your backpack a germ factory.

• Change the strap positioning to an extent that you can stand straight while carrying the backpack.

• Give your backpack a quick wash by the end of a term. It will help it to look nice and smell fresh.

• Carry what you actually need. Other books can stay in lockers.

• Check you class schedule and take the books you need for the day and leave the rest at home. (It does not include your homework)

• If you can, get a backpack with wheels and pull out handles, so you do not have to carry the load at all.

Researchers say that we should only carry 10-15% of our body weight. So if you weigh around 32 kg, you should not be carrying anything more than 4 kg.

Carrying more can damage your back. Get your backpack ready for school, and make sure it is your support not your problem.