Are Computers Hazardous to your Health?
Nov 21, 2001 11:45 AM
Computers and Children
Q: My children use computers at home and in school. Should I worry about their safety?
A: The same rules of ergonomics that affect you also affect children, but applying them is often complicated because your children are probably using adult-size furniture. As a result, they may be craning their necks to see the screen, reaching their arms up to a keyboard, flexing their wrists and dangling their feet — and what child sits with proper posture? At press time, Cornell University researchers had just published the first relevant study, concluding that at least four in 10 third, fourth and fifth graders observed at school computers risked serious injury.
The UFT has voiced its concerns to the Board of Education and the School Construction Authority. Some new and renovated classrooms have been equipped with ergonomic equipment, but at the moment the board seems to be focusing more on providing computers and Internet access than on proper furniture.
Q: How can I protect my children?
A: Teach them about computer safety, stressing these points:
- Raise the seat so the forehead is level with the top of the monitor. If necessary, sit on a book.
- Bend arms at a 90 degree angle.
- If necessary, place a rolled-up towel or sweatshirt in the small of the back for support.
- Place a box, books or backpack under the feet so knees bend at a 90 degree angle.
- Take breaks every 15 or 20 minutes, because children can work or play at a computer for hours on end. Glue a small clock to the monitor or try a clock with a snooze alarm to provide an audible cue to rest.
- Restrict use of mesmerizing video games like Nintendo or PlayStation, which involve steady pounding of controls.
