Olympia Medical Center Urges Back-to-School Safety

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 15 /PRNewswire/ — With children returning to school over the next few weeks, Olympia Medical Center’s physicians are encouraging parents and children to be mindful of the three Bs of back-to-school safety: buses, bicycles and backpacks.

   — Buses and bus stops – Bus accidents are rare, but children need to obey      safety rules while loading, riding and exiting the bus. It is critical      for students to remain seated during the entire trip from the bus stop      to school. Sudden stops can result in broken bones and head injuries.      Bus stops can be another source of danger depending upon their      location. Young children should be accompanied by a responsible adult.      Older children should cross the street only at traffic lights or      designated crosswalks. They must always stand away from the street      while waiting at the bus stop.   — Bicycles – Properly fitting bicycle helmets are the best way to prevent      head injuries. It is against the law for a minor child to ride a      bicycle without a helmet. Be sure that children know the rules of the      road when riding a bicycle and only cross at traffic signals or marked      crosswalks. Keep emergency information in an easy-to-find location on      the child’s bicycle so a parent or guardian can be reached in the event      of an accident.   — Backpacks – Many children wear backpacks that are too heavy, which can      lead to low back pain, pinched nerves on the shoulders and arms, pulled      muscles, bursitis, and strains. More than 21,000 children were treated      for backpack injuries in 2002, according to the U.S. Consumer Product      Safety Commission. These injuries included contusions, sprains and      strains in the back and shoulders. In severe cases, an overloaded      backpack may cause spinal injuries. A loaded backpack should not weigh      more than 15-20 percent of the child’s weight, advises the American      Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.       Physicians from the Los Angeles Center for Spine Care and Research at      Olympia Medical Center advise students to not overload your backpack,      make sure it fits your body type, and stand up straight using both      shoulder straps to maintain equal balance. Better yet: use a bag on      rollers rather than carry it on your back. “Some kids wear their      backpacks slung low, hanging off one shoulder or loaded with so much      ‘stuff’ that students are straining to keep them balanced on their      shoulders and backs,” said Sam Bakshian, M.D., an orthopaedic surgeon      at Olympia Medical Center. “Couple this with the poor posture of youth      and you have a recipe for pain.”

Olympia Medical Center is a visionary provider of high-quality, cost- efficient, individualized patient care in the heart of Los Angeles. Established in 1948, the hospital has recently undergone a dramatic change, not only of ownership and name to Olympia Medical Center, but also a marked revamping of infrastructure and services provided. Olympia Medical Center has 204 licensed beds, nearly 600 affiliated physicians on staff, and is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. The medical center’s specialty programs include the Los Angeles Center for Spine Care and Research, the California Digestive Diseases Institute, the Center for Geriatric Health, the Joint Replacement Program, the Southern California Sports Medicine Institute, the Surgical Weight Control Center and 24-hour emergency care. Further information about Olympia Medical Center may be obtained at http://www.olympiamc.com/ .

Olympia Medical Center

CONTACT: Christina Zicklin for Olympia Medical Center, +1-323-932-5144

Web site: http://www.olympiamc.com/