 "Summers in Illinois can be very
hot and humid. The high temperatures can really put a strain on
people's health and their pocketbooks," Blagojevich said. "Through
the Keep Cool Illinois campaign, we are trying to help as many
people as we can save energy, save money and stay cool this summer."
The Keep Cool Illinois campaign includes the
www.keepcool.illinois.gov online site, a statewide network of
cooling centers, targeted outreach to vulnerable senior citizens,
energy assistance programs, public service announcements, fire
safety tips, water safety tips and other information to help
families across Illinois prepare for the summer.
The statewide, multiagency and group campaign involves the Illinois
departments on Aging, Healthcare and Family Services, Human
Services, Public Health, Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the
Emergency Management Agency, the Illinois Environmental Protection
Agency, and the lieutenant governor's office.
Energy assistance grants: The Illinois Department of
Healthcare and Family Services will launch its Summer Cooling
program on July 9. The program has the ability to distribute up to
$6 million in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funds to
low-income families to assist them with their utility bills, so they
can keep their air conditioners and fans running. Through
LIHEAP, a state- and
federally funded energy assistance program, utility bill payments
are made on behalf of households with incomes of up to 150 percent
of the federal poverty level.
"We all have a responsibility to do whatever we can to help
Illinois families make it through the hot summer months ahead,
especially our most vulnerable families," said Barry Maram, director
of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. "With this
comprehensive initiative, we hope to assist more families than ever
before. I would urge all Illinoisans who believe they may be
eligible to look into available state resources and the LIHEAP
program before the hot weather arrives."
Energy efficiency information: The Illinois
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity provides information
and technical assistance for people looking for ways to improve
their energy efficiency at home or on the job. Many energy
efficiency options, such as improved air sealing, insulation and the
use of Energy Star appliances, help reduce energy use year-round.
The department will provide information on easy ways to save money
and on available grant programs to help reduce energy costs.
Weatherization tips will also soon be available via streaming video
from the Keep Cool site and at
www.illinoisenergy.org.
The Keep Cool Illinois site: On the Web,
www.keepcool.illinois.gov offers various no-cost and low-cost
energy-saving tips, links to cooling centers and energy assistance
programs, fireworks safety tips, West Nile virus prevention guides,
and other available state resources. The Keep Cool Illinois
toll-free line, 877-411-9276, as well a Spanish version of the
online site provide additional resources for Illinois residents to
learn how to cut utility bills, receive energy assistance, and stay
cool and healthy this summer.
Cooling centers: As part of his Keep Cool Illinois campaign,
Blagojevich is making 130 state facilities available as cooling
centers. The cooling centers will provide Illinoisans a place to
stay cool and comfortable during the scorching hot days of summer.
The cooling centers are located at Illinois Department of Human
Services offices throughout the state and will be open to the public
during regular business hours so anyone seeking refuge from the heat
has a cool place to go when the temperature climbs. More information
on the state's cooling centers will be available by calling the
toll-free line 800-843-6154, or search by ZIP code at
www.keepcool.illinois.gov for the cooling center nearest you.
"The cooling centers offer a cool place for Illinoisans to beat
the heat this summer," said Illinois Department of Human Services
Secretary Carol L. Adams, Ph.D. "Many low-income Illinoisans have no
air conditioning in their homes or no other cool place to go to
escape the heat. The cooling centers offer a clean, safe place to
take refuge during the hottest part of the day."
Senior summer safety: The Illinois Department on Aging will
provide summer tips to seniors statewide through its network of Area
Agencies on Aging. The agency, working with its partners in the
Aging Network, will also work to educate and provide materials
outlining dangers associated with the summer weather; perform
well-being checks on vulnerable seniors; and provide cooling centers
at senior centers, adult day service centers and nutrition sites; as
well as extend hours and provide transportation as requested.
Seniors are at an increased risk especially if they take certain
medications, drink alcohol, lack proper nutrition or have conditions
such as arthritis, stroke, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's
disease. During heat emergencies, seniors are urged to contact their
local Area Agencies on Aging or the Senior HelpLine, 800-252-8966,
for assistance with locating senior centers, adult day service sites
and other familiar buildings that serve as cooling centers.
"The Keep Cool Illinois campaign will help older people learn how
they can take the right steps to avoid heat stress, and I urge all
seniors to take the time to review these potential lifesaving tips,"
said Department on Aging Director Charles D. Johnson. "Most of us
often fail to recognize that extreme heat and humidity can pose very
dangerous threats, particularly as we age."
[to top of second column]
 |
 FAN Club program: The lieutenant governor's office, with
funding assistance from the Department of Healthcare and Family
Services, will kick off the FAN Club again this summer. Started in
2005, the program has distributed about 1,000 fans through the
Illinois Community Action Association to low-income households
across Illinois.
Dehydration and heat stroke prevention: The Illinois
Department of Public Health will provide information to Illinoisans
on how to prevent and treat dehydration, which can occur from not
drinking enough fluids, and heat stroke, which can be caused from
overexposure to direct sunlight, with or without physical activity,
or to very high indoor temperatures.
Water safety: The Illinois Department of Public Health will
also provide information to Illinoisans on how to decrease the
health and safety risks associated with swimming. The department
requires the state's 3,500 swimming pools and spas to meet water
quality and safety standards and enforces these rules and
regulations through plan approvals and inspections. To prevent
illnesses associated with swimming at Illinois beaches, each
licensed beach is inspected annually to determine that required
safety features are in place and that there are no sources of
possible pollution, such as sewage discharges. The department also
requires that each of the 408 licensed public beaches (excluding
beaches on Lake Michigan, which are monitored daily by the counties
and municipalities) be sampled every two weeks to determine that
bacterial levels in the water are within established limits.) For
more information on summer activity safety and summer health risks,
call 217-782-4977 or visit
http://www.idph.state.il.us/public/
books/summtoc.htm for the "Summer? No Sweat" Survival Guide
published and distributed by the Department of Public Health.
West Nile virus prevention: The Department of Public Health
will also urge Illinoisans to take precautions to prevent disease
and injury while they "keep cool" this summer. As part of the
governor's Keep Cool Illinois campaign, the department will continue
to provide helpful tips to prevent West Nile. The West Nile virus is
transmitted through the bite of a mosquito that has picked up the
virus by feeding on an infected bird. Most people with the virus
have no clinical symptoms of illness, but some may become ill three
to 14 days after the bite of an infected mosquito.
Illinois Energy Efficient Affordable Housing Construction
Program: The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has
grants available to nonprofit housing developers that include
energy-efficient building practices in the rehab or construction of
affordable housing units. These building practices often bring
energy savings between 50 percent and 75 percent.
Lightning safety awareness: Each year in the United States,
an average of 67 people are killed by lightning -- more than those
killed by tornadoes. Most lightning fatalities and injuries occur
outdoors at recreational events -- baseball games, soccer games,
lakes and on golf courses -- and under or near trees. Under the
governor's Keep Cool Illinois campaign, the Illinois Emergency
Management Agency will join with the National Weather Service and
the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to help residents
understand how to stay safe when lightning strikes. A
Lightning Safety Awareness booklet is available at
www.state.il.us/iema,
and an outdoor safety tips brochure will be available at all state
park visitor centers this summer. [To download Adobe Acrobat Reader for
the PDF file, click
here.]
Fireworks safety: While fireworks are a traditional part of
Fourth of July celebrations, many people are seriously injured each
year by careless or untrained use of fireworks. New state fireworks
regulations that went into effect last year helped decrease the
number of fireworks-related injuries by ensuring that fireworks are
used only by people who meet safety standards. The Office of the
State Fire Marshal has information about the fireworks regulations
and other fireworks safety tips at
www.state.il.us/osfm.
Air Pollution Action Days: The Illinois Environmental
Protection Agency and the Partners for Clean air will continue to
alert the public on Air Pollution Action Days throughout the hot
summer months, when air pollution increases due to heat and sun.
Daily reports of air quality measurements are provided to the media
in order to notify the public that levels of air pollution pose a
health risk, especially for those with respiratory or heart
illnesses. These notices alert individuals in Chicago, northwest
Indiana and Metro East that low winds and high temperatures have the
potential to elevate pollution to unhealthy levels. The goal is to
encourage individuals and businesses to take actions to reduce
pollution as well as to alert the public. More information is
available at
www.cleantheair.org.
"There are 'green actions' individuals can take to reduce air
pollution. Some of those actions are as simple as limiting driving
and opting to walk or ride a bike, and using E85 in your
flexible-fuel vehicle," said Illinois Environmental Protection
Agency Director Doug Scott. "By following these small steps, each
citizen will be able to collectively reduce emissions and enjoy the
great outdoors Illinois has to offer." For more green tips, visit
www.epa.state.il.us.
Blagojevich launched the Keep Warm Illinois campaign and online
site in the fall of 2005 to help all Illinoisans stay warm, healthy
and safe throughout the winter. The Keep Warm Illinois campaign was
also a comprehensive effort to inform and prepare Illinois residents
for record-high home heating costs. It included unprecedented
coordination between state agencies as well as a statewide public
awareness effort in partnership with community colleges and Clear
Channel Radio in Chicago to help inform Illinoisans about winter
preparations and resources available.
[Text from file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information] |
