Skateboarding is a $3 billion-a-year industry. Adults and government are making money off of kids. Think about it for a minute.

Manufacturers market their products to the kids. It is advertised in magazines and on TV, sold in stores; governments and cities collect sales tax from stores and manufacturers; and the kids gets to purchase their dreams. The next thing you know, the city police start harassing and writing tickets (usually a small fee), and the city collects more money and these kids get multiple tickets.

Then, they get an attitude. They spend their days fleeing authority figures, and they grow up on the streets. They usually are 9-10 years old when they start. By the time they are 12-14 years old, they are hard for the police to catch. These were not at-risk youth when they started. They were little kids.

Cities and municipalities have an obligation to their communities to provide safe places for their youth to skate. It is an investment for their future. When children are looked after and cared for by adults, they grow up to be responsible, caring adults.

This is a known fact and is why we have parks and recreation programs. As responsible adults, we cannot turn our back on these kids because they have chosen an extreme sport to take part in.

This is part of an article from SPAUSA (Skatepark Association of the United States), but it is what's going on here in our city.

Yes, kids are at times getting harassed not only by police officers, but downtown business owners. And no, not all the kids are completely innocent. But why doesn't the city get busy and get a park. After the mayor and Chris Murphy said after “Wild in the Streets” last June, they would get a park.

With all the grants out there, it might be a challenge, but it can be done. So, why not start? The city can use the liability excuse. Well, there is no liability.

What about the no money excuse? What about the nature works grant? The start has provided hundreds of thousands of dollars to cities and townships in Ohio for the funding of skateparks.

Surely, with all the land and buildings the city has bought the last few years, there should be something for the youth. I think the bottom line and the question to ask is, does Portsmouth have city officials interested in our youth, or just in themselves.

Danny Sprinkle

Portsmouth

Patients having an accurate list of medications is vital part of treatment

The National Patient Safety Goal 8 requires the accurate and complete reconciliation of medications. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement defines Medication Reconciliation as a process of identifying the most accurate list of all medications a patient is taking and using this list to provide correct medications for patients anywhere within the healthcare system.

A nurse usually obtains the patient's medications list and views the list with a physician. The physician completes the list by choosing what medications to continue during the patient's hospitalization stay.

From a nurse's viewpoint, obtaining an accurate medication list from the patient is the biggest constraint in completing the medication reconciliation process. Patients coming to the hospital with no list or a list not updated are at risk for a medication error.

Mediation errors are the eighth-leading cause of death, accounting for approximately 7,000 deaths annually among Americans, and occurring at an estimated rate of five per 100 medications administered (McIntyre, 2006).

I feel the first step is to educate the public about the importance of having an accurate medication list with you at all times. This list should include prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, inhalers, herbals and supplements.

Also, the dosage and frequency should be included in the list. The medication list can be made using a wallet-sized card to be kept in a wallet or a purse at all times.

I also encourage making copies of the medication list for friends, neighbors and family members in case the patient is unable to communicate.

Providing an updated list can prevent adverse drug interactions during one's hospitalization. Preventable adverse drug events are associated with one out of five injures or deaths (Pronovost 2003).

Melissa Davis

Sciotoville