<strong>From staff reports</strong>

The Beaufort-Jasper YMCA of the Lowcountry earlier this month added another layer of COVID-19 protection to the Wardle Family YMCA facility in Port Royal: Global Plasma Solutions (GPS) proprietary needlepoint bipolar ionization technology.

With assistance of local mechanical engineering company Carolina Air, Inc., and with funds raised by the current YMCA Board of Directors, all of the HVAC units on premises now utilize this technology.

Jennifer Tuckwiller, Carolina Air Business Manager/Owner and former CVO of the YMCA adds, “GPS technology is safe and does not produce harmful ozone like traditional bipolar Ionization systems. GPS is considered to be the gold standard in air purification and is used in commercial environments such as Duke Health, The Cleveland Clinic, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Phoenix Skyharbour Airport, NY Presbyterian Hospital, Harvard, Yale, Clemson, SMU, LSU, Texas A &amp; M, and many more institutions across the United States.”

GPS technology uses the process of needlepoint bipolar ionization (NPBI) that clears the air of particles faster. Ionization targets pathogens with ions which disrupts the pathogens' surface proteins, rendering them inactive. The devices run continuously to kill and filter viruses (like COVID-19), allergens, mold spores, bacteria, odors, and more.

“The health and safety of our members and visitors will always be our top priority so we are pleased to be able to install this state-of-the-art technology,” YMCA CEO Michael Bostwick said in a release. “We are grateful to our Board for raising the funding for this purchase and to Carolina Air, Inc. for their assistance in researching this product and providing their installation as an in-kind donation.”

The Beaufort-Jasper YMCA of the Lowcountry continues to follow all protocols outlined in their Phase 3 Reopening Guidelines as recommended by DHEC, as well as the Town of Port Royal Face Covering Ordinance. For more information please<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>visit beaufort-jasperymca.org

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<em>Above: Global Plasma Solutions (GPS) proprietary needlepoint bipolar ionization technology installed on YMCA HAVAC unit.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>During the GPS cleaning process, the NPBI technology attacks and kills viruses, mold spores and bacteria. The ions steal away hydrogen from the pathogens, leaving them to die, and leaving you with clean and healthy indoor air.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></em>