Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois and National Catastrophe Solutions recently provided deep air ventilation cleaning services and the installation of HEPA air purifiers at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Illinois’ (BGCCIL) flagship location in Springfield.
“Children are vulnerable to the harmful long-term effects of poor air quality,” said BGCCIL CEO Tiffany Mathis Posey. “Nearly six percent of children in the United States have asthma, and about 1.6 million people nationwide are diagnosed after an emergency room visit. Moreover, central Illinois is still addressing how to combat respiratory illnesses that threaten our children and their families, including RSV, influenza and COVID-19.”
The timing of this service is especially important to the Club as we enter flu season and combat the expected rise in both Covid and RSV cases throughout the community.
According to Mathis Posey deep cleaning and air purifiers are just a first step. “Club staff soon will receive additional benefits through our work with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, including access to health and awareness training from the American Lung Association” she added. “With this training, our sites will be better prepared to mitigate respiratory illness outbreaks and assist member families.”
The BGCCIL is most appreciative that community partners like Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois make it possible for us to turn our youth into leaders of tomorrow through education and career development, art, technology, fitness, life skills and building character.
