093_HJ0032

 
                                     LRB093 11437 KEF 14246 r

 1                       HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 2        WHEREAS, The improper use of backpacks has a  destructive
 3    impact on the posture and spinal health of children; and

 4        WHEREAS,  55% of students carry more than the recommended
 5    national guidelines or 10.15% of  body  weight;  and  66%  of
 6    school  nurses  report  seeing  students  with pain or injury
 7    attributed to carrying backpacks; and

 8        WHEREAS, Up to 60% of children will experience back  pain
 9    by the time they reach 18 years of age; and

10        WHEREAS,  The American Academy of Orthopedics stated that
11    backpack injury is a significant problem  for  children  with
12    58%  having seen patients complaining of back pain related to
13    backpacks; and

14        WHEREAS,  Doctors  of   Chiropractic   are   the   health
15    professionals  best  qualified  to  detect  and  correct  the
16    structural distortions caused by improper backpack use; and

17        WHEREAS,  The Congress of Chiropractic State Associations
18    has designed a National Backpack Safety  program  to  educate
19    school  nurses,  teachers,  parents,  school  administrators,
20    healthcare  providers  and students about backpack injury and
21    ways to prevent it; therefore, be it

22        RESOLVED,  BY  THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES   OF   THE
23    NINETY-THIRD  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
24    SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that  we  designate  the  month  of
25    April  in 2003 and in each succeeding year as Backpack Safety
26    Month in the State of Illinois; and be it further

27        RESOLVED, That the General Assembly urge the  schools  in
28    the  State  of Illinois to participate in programs offered to
29    them during Backpack Safety Month to educate youth about  the
30    risk  of  spinal  injury  caused by improper backpack use and
 
                           -2-       LRB093 11437 KEF 14246 r
 1    design; and be it further

 2        RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be sent  to  the
 3    State Board of Education.