This year, Backpack Awareness Day, which is sponsored by the American Occupational Therapy Association, is September 19. Here are a few things to keep in mind when your children load up.

Never let a child carry more than 15 percent of his body weight. This means that a child who weighs 100 pounds shouldn’t wear a loaded school backpack that’s heavier than 15 pounds.

Load the heaviest items closest to the child’s back (the back of the pack).

Arrange books and materials so they won’t slide around in the backpack.

Check what your child carries to school and brings home. Make sure the items are necessary for the day’s activities.

If the backpack is too heavy, consider using a book bag on wheels if your child’s school allows them.

Both shoulder straps should always be worn. Wearing a pack slung over one shoulder can cause a child to lean to one side, resulting in pain and discomfort.

Select a pack with well-padded shoulder straps. The shoulders and the neck have many blood vessels and nerves that can cause pain and tingling in the neck, the arms, and the hands when too much pressure is applied.

Adjust the shoulder straps so the pack fits snugly against the child’s back. A pack that hangs loosely from the back can pull a child backward and strain muscles.

Use the waist belt if the backpack has one. This helps distribute the pack’s weight more evenly.