|
 "Illinois' hot and humid summers can be dangerous for seniors,
people with disabilities and small children. As the mercury rises,
the high temperatures can put a strain on people's health and their
pocketbooks," said Blagojevich. "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 site, along with a statewide network of
cooling centers, targeted outreach to vulnerable senior citizens,
energy assistance programs, public service announcements, fire
safety information, water safety information and other tips to help
families across Illinois prepare for the summer.
The statewide campaign involves the Illinois Department on Aging,
Department of Healthcare and Family Services, Department of Human
Services, Department of Public Health, Department of Commerce and
Economic Opportunity, Illinois Emergency Management Agency, 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 7. Through the program, the department has the
ability to distribute up to $10 million in Low Income Home Energy
Assistance 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.
"The extreme heat of the summer can pose a serious threat to the
health and well-being of Illinoisans, but often, low-income families
are hesitant to use air conditioning because of the burden of high
energy costs," said HFS Director Barry S. Maram. "That's why we
administer the LIHEAP program, which helps our most vulnerable
residents pay for the cost of cooling their homes and gives them the
confidence and peace of mind to do so. I encourage people to log
onto www.keepcool.illinois.gov to find out about these and other
available state resources."
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 online site,
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 more than 120 state facilities available as
cooling centers beginning now. 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 department's toll-free number,
800-843-6154. To find out where the nearest cooling center is,
people can also search by ZIP code at
www.keepcool.illinois.gov.
"Many low-income Illinoisans have no air conditioning in their
homes or no other cool place to go to escape the heat," said IDHS
Secretary Carol L. Adams, Ph.D. "The cooling centers offer a clean,
safe place to cool off 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 seniors on summer safety;
provide materials outlining dangers associated with the summer
weather; perform well-being checks on vulnerable seniors; provide
cooling centers at senior centers, adult day service centers and
nutrition sites; as well as extend hours at the centers 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.
"Most of us fail to recognize that extreme heat and humidity can
pose very dangerous threats, particularly as we age," said Charles
Johnson, director of the Illinois Department on Aging. "The Keep
Cool Illinois campaign will help older adults learn how they can
take the right steps to avoid heat stress, and I urge everyone to
take the time to review these potential lifesaving tips."
[to top of second column]
 |
 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 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. The department 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 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. (West Nile virus
prevention and precautions)
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. (Program
information)
Lightning safety awareness: Each year in the United States,
an average of 61 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 to
help residents understand how to stay safe when lightning strikes. A
lightning safety awareness
booklet is available at
www.iema.illinois.gov. [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 in 2006 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: Throughout the hot summer months,
the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the Partners for
Clean Air will continue to alert the public on Air Pollution Action
Days, 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 alert the public. More information can be found
at www.cleantheair.org. For more "green" tips, visit
www.epa.state.il.us.
"Individuals can take many actions to reduce air pollution. Some
are as simple as limiting driving and walking or riding a bike to
work," said Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director Doug
Scott. "By following small steps, citizens will be able to
collectively reduce emissions and do their part to keep Illinois
healthier."
For cold weather, 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]
 |
