INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Make a list of hospitals in your area that you are willing to travel to on a regular basis. Volunteering at a hospital is a large commitment. You want to find a hospital that is convenient for you to visit. For example, if you plan to volunteer after school or work, choose a hospital that is close to your job or school. If you plan to volunteer on the weekends, choose a hospital that is close to where you live. Use resources such as Google Maps, the phone book, and your knowledge of the area. Don't discount smaller hospitals and clinics. Search the internet for a phone number for volunteer services, or write down the main phone number for the hospital. Once you have identified hospitals that you are interested in, visit the hospital website to find out about volunteer opportunities. The majority of hospitals have volunteer programs. The website will list contact information for the volunteer office at the hospital. You can call with any questions or concerns you have about volunteering at the hospital. When you visit the website, look at the different areas within the hospital that accept volunteers. Make a list of the hospitals that have areas that look interesting to you and are in a convenient location. There are many ways to volunteer at a hospital. You can serve patients, families, and hospital visitors. Find an opportunity that matches with your interests. Volunteering should be enjoyable and be beneficial for both you and the hospital. If there is a special population that you are interested in working with, you should find a hospital that caters to that population. If you enjoy working with children, try to volunteer at a children's hospital. If you enjoy working with the elderly, try to volunteer at a nursing home. If you want to interact with patients, you should volunteer in an area that provides direct care to patients. If you want to help hospital visitors, you may want to volunteer at the information desk or in the gift shop. If you do not want to interact with patients or visitors, you may be able to help with administrative work like filing, or shredding. Volunteer requirements vary among hospitals. The requirements will be different for teens and adult volunteers as well. Hospitals typically have age requirements and expected time commitment (e.g hours per week, six months or one year, etc.). Some hospitals have special summer volunteer programs or internships for students. Requirements will vary depending on the area that you choose to volunteer in as well. For example, at one hospital, you can start volunteering when you are 15 years old, but you cannot interact with patients until you are 18 years old. If you are under the age of 18, you will need permission from your parents to volunteer at the hospital.

SUMMARY: Find a hospital. Get more information about volunteer opportunities. Choose volunteer opportunities that matches your interests. Determine the requirements.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Look for signs of struggle as you place the net around the fish's body. If your fish is just sleeping, they'll wake up and try to wiggle their way out of the net. If they don't, they could be dead or very sick. Check the gills for most species. If they're not moving, the fish isn't breathing. Bettas and other labyrinth fish breathe through their mouths. If your fish is from this family, watch their bodies for up and down movements. Look at the eye as a whole. If they're sunken, your fish is dead or near death. Look for cloudy pupils, which is also a sign of death in most aquarium fish. If your fish is a pufferfish, walleye, rabbit fish, or scorpionfish, occasional eye cloudiness might actually be normal. However, you should contact your vet if the cloudiness persists for several days. Do this if your fish has jumped out of the tank. Look for cracking of the skin as you pick up the body. Feel the body to see if it has dried out. These signs are only present in dead fish.

SUMMARY: Try to scoop the fish into your aquarium net. Look for breathing. Check the fish's eyes. Examine the fish's scales.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: You can create an easy trap from common household supplies. The base of the trap is created out of two empty soda pop bottles. The pop bottles will be rigged to attract minnows in, but won't let them out. You'll need these supplies: 2 2-3 liter pop bottles 1 woodworking nail (size isn't important) Twine or small string Scissors Pliers Access to a flame 15-20 feet of rope, string, or twine Use your scissors to cut out a third of the bottom of one bottle. It is important to keep the cap, or top part, untouched. Cut out the "neck and shoulders" of the second bottle. This is the top portion of the bottle; a half inch below the part of the bottle where the sides begin to straighten out. The bottles must be the same size before you cut into the bottles. Remove the cap from the second, smaller bottle. Take the second bottle and insert it into the first bottle. Turn on your flame to a low setting and grip your nail's head using pliers. Once your grip is secure, place the point directly in the flame for about thirty seconds. Poke 10 to 12 holes around the bottom circumference of the conjoined bottles. Space out the holes about an inch apart. Use the string or twine to sew the two bottles together. You can either use a large piece of string to sew around the circumference, or use individual strings to secure the bottles. If you are sewing, thread the string over into a hole followed by an under thread. You could also cut out individual strings for each hole. Use a double knot on each hole. If you sewed the bottles, tie the tail securely in a double knot and cut off the excess string. Reheat the nail with the flame using the grip from the pliers. Let the nail's point heat for about 30 seconds. Create several holes all over the top bottle. Create at least two dozen or so holes. Reheat the nail if it becomes tough to puncture through the plastic. The trap works by sinking into a body of water for several hours. To reel the trap in, you'll need to attach a rope or string. Gather a long narrow rope, string or twine that is about 15-20 feet. Tie a double knot to the top of the trap around the neck. Tie the opposite end to a nearby tree or secure it with a heavy rock near the water. Use a secure object that is close to the water so the trap will sink deeper. Search for a spot along a moving body of water like a stream or creek. Creeks will have a larger population of minnows. Check a map to locate creeks that feed into a larger body of water. Now it's time to fill the trap with bait to lure in the minnows. The trap is designed to attract minnows inside, but won't let them out. Add some bread or crackers through the bottom of the trap and shake the trap to secure the bait. Once the rope is secured around the bottle and nearby object, toss the trap into the water. Check on the trap in two hours. The trap will be more effective if left overnight. Pour the captured minnows into your bait bucket.

SUMMARY:
Gather your supplies. Connect the bottles. Prepare the stitching. Sew the bottles together. Puncture the bottle. Attach a line. Find a minnow-rich area. Set the minnow trap.