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Touro University Nevada Celebrates National Backpack Awareness Day Sept. 19

Joining other occupational therapy practitioners, educators and students across the country, TUN staff and students will work to bring local awareness to the American Occupational Therapy Association’s National Backpack Awareness Day on Wednesday, September 19.

More than 79 million students in the United States carry backpacks to school and each year thousands of injuries are attributed to improperly or over packed bags. It is recommended that a loaded backpack should never exceed a weight more than 10 percent of a student’s body weight. In one study with American students’ ages 11 to 15 years, 64% reported back pain related to heavy backpacks. Twenty one percent reported the pain lasting more than 6 months.

TUN staff will teach students at the Silver Sands Montessori School and several other schools across the valley to “Pack it Light, Wear it Right” in order to avoid the pain and injuries that come from heavy backpacks and bags. They will demonstrate how to properly choose, pack, lift and carry various types of bags. In addition, the staff will also hold demonstrations at TUN’s own campus as studies report that 85% of university students report pain or discomfort associated with backpack use.

WHEN: Wednesday, September 19, 2012
TUN – 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. & Noon to 1 p.m.
Silver Sands Montessori School – 12:45 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.

WHERE: Silver Sands Montessori School
1841 Whitney Mesa Drive
Henderson, NV 89014

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Touro University Nevada
874 American Pacific Drive
Henderson, NV 89074

Touro University Nevada (TUN) is a non-profit, Jewish-sponsored, private institution established to help address critical needs in health care and education and as a resource for community service in the state of Nevada. TUN opened its doors in 2004 and is home to more than 1,400 students, in a wide variety of degree programs including osteopathic medicine, physician assistant studies, education, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, medical health sciences and camp administration. The university’s Henderson campus includes a multi-specialty physician’s office and a multi-disciplinary diagnostic and treatment center for children with autism and developmental disabilities. For more information, visit www.tun.touro.edu or call 702- 777-8687.