INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If you want to check on the status of your local water, contact the local water utility company or the local government authorities. Start by looking at your water bill for a number to contact the water company. You can also contact the city or town hall about reports on local water quality. You can also try calling the local health department. When you talk to someone from the local water authority, you need to know the right questions to ask. You can ask basic questions, like is there fluoride added to the water and when was the last time the EPA tested the water. You can also ask if they use any other disinfectants than chlorine.  You can ask about the source of the water. Groundwater is generally cleaner due to the natural filtering from the soil. Surface water has a tendency to pick up more pollutants. If they tell you that the EPA has tested the water, ask for the results. You can also ask for a copy of the test results since by law they have to provide you with information about water contaminants. If you cannot get any information from your local water authorities, you can try contacting the EPA. You can look up your local city’s “Consumer Confidence Report.” You may also contact the EPA safe drinking water hotline at 1-800-426-4791.  You may also contact the EPA via their online form found here.  You can also email the EPA at hotline-sdwa@epamail.epa.gov. If you have well water, or you are concerned about your community’s water, you can test it yourself. Only send your water to a state and EPA-certified laboratory. You can find approved labs by contacting the EPA hotline. The cost of testing the water ranges from $25 to $100, depending on the thoroughness of your test.

SUMMARY: Contact your local water source. Ask questions about your water quality. Contact the EPA. Test your water.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: It’s a good idea to have a routine physical that will assess your overall health. Your doctor may also order specific tests, such as a blood test that checks lead levels, a blood test that looks for thyroid disease, and a CT scan or MRI to check brain activity. Different types of doctors can offer different expertise. It may be helpful to visit more than one doctor to get a full diagnosis and treatment plan.  A psychiatrist is trained in diagnosing ADHD and is licensed to prescribe medication. This person may not be trained in counseling. A psychologist is trained in diagnosing ADHD and is trained in counseling. This person is not licensed to prescribe medication in most states; however, psychologists in New Mexico, Louisiana, and Illinois can prescribe medication.  Your family doctor is familiar with your medical history but may lack the specialized knowledge about ADHD. This person is also not trained in counseling. A psychiatrist or psychologist who specializes in ADHD issues can make the diagnosis for you about ADHD. This person will interview you to get a detailed idea of your past and current life experiences and challenges. Bring your health records to your appointment, as these may indicate certain health conditions that mimic symptoms of ADHD. Talk with your parents or other family members about your family medical history. ADHD can be genetic, so it is helpful for your doctor to know about your family's past medical issues. Many individuals with ADHD experience difficulty at work, including time management, focusing and managing projects. These challenges are often reflected in job performance reviews as well as the number and types of jobs you’ve held. Bring these records to your appointment. Your ADHD has likely been impacting you for years. You may have gotten poor grades or you may have frequently been in trouble in school. If you can find your old report cards and school records, bring them to your appointment. Go back as far as possible, even to elementary school. If you think your child has ADHD, bring his or her report cards and samples of school work to the appointment. The mental health professional may also request behavior reports from your child’s teachers. It can be extremely useful for the therapist to talk with other people about your possible ADHD. It might be hard for you to say that you’re constantly restless or that you have trouble concentrating. Many disorders mimic some of the symptoms of ADHD, contributing to misdiagnoses.  Some of the conditions that may resemble ADHD include learning disabilities, anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, epilepsy, thyroid dysfunction and sleep disorders. Talk with your doctor or mental health professional about whether you have any of these disorders. Comorbidity is the presence of two disorders in one patient. As if having an ADHD diagnosis isn’t challenging enough, one out of every five with ADHD is diagnosed with another serious disorder (depression and bipolar disorder are common partners). One-third of children with ADD also have a behavioral disorder (conduct disorder, oppositional defiance disorder).  ADHD tends to pair up with learning disabilities and anxiety, too.

SUMMARY: Visit your family doctor for a physical exam. Choose the best medical professional for your diagnosis. Schedule an appointment with a mental health professional. Assemble health records. Bring employment records. Gather report cards and school records. Bring your partner or family member with you. Rule out other disorders. Recognize the possibility of comorbidity with ADHD.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Like any journalist, the mission of a sports analyst should be to provide the public with factual, reliable information. Take care to research facts carefully and represent them faithfully in your write-ups. Call upon your statistical proficiency to produce accurate figures and predictions, and share your own insights whenever you have the chance. Sports fans will be counting on you to provide them with reports that they can count on.  Always verify a piece of information before you relay it to the public. Aim to construct a network of dependable sources that will give you an inside line on developing updates. While some sports analysts are confined to offices researching and writing reports, others will find themselves presenting these reports to the masses on the air. If you intend to advance into broadcast journalism, you’ll need to cultivate a distinct professional demeanor and be at ease working in front of the cameras. Learn to think on your feet and stay poised and you’ll quickly get over the nerves of appearing in broadcasts.  Talking for the radio or TV cameras can be intimidating, but will become easier the more you do it. It may also be a good idea to know how to work with teleprompters, research databases, word processing programs and other technology utilized by professionals. As a sports analyst, you will be expected to have prediction models, written columns and other materials prepared under strict time constraints. Get in the habit of starting projects right away and taking an organized approach to data collection and analysis. It’s important that you be able to work briskly and efficiently under pressure and meet a consistent quota. Your daily workload as a sports journalist will vary depending on where you work and what your exact job description is, but will more often than not include extensive paperwork that has to be submitted in a timely manner in order to support the information included in broadcasts. Keep watching sports and following the action of different teams, leagues and events. Even if you’re not observing from the press box, you should do your best to stay current on major developments in the sports world such as game results, player trades and injuries and team personnel changes. Your reputation depends on your ability to keep up with all types of sports-related information at once. Luckily, this is the most rewarding part of working as a sports analyst—getting paid to immerse yourself in what you’re most passionate about.  In addition to your own research, you should know where to turn for credible, up-to-the-minute sports reporting. Follow the major news outlets like SportsCenter and ESPN to catch the big stories as they unfold. Make use of your professional sources for exclusive inside information.

SUMMARY:
Provide credible information. Get comfortable being on the radio or TV. Be able to meet strict deadlines. Stay up-to-date on sports news and results.