Every emergency response employer in the United States is required by law to have a designated infection control officer (DICO). Individuals often are appointed to this position without being given any training or assistance on how to do the job. NAPSICO has been formed to fill this gap and provide DICOs what they need to effectively serve in this role.
The National Association for Public Safety Infection Control Officers (NAPSICO) is a non-profit association established to provide designated infection control officers (DICOs) the tools needed to develop and manage an effective infection control program in their organization. This Association is focused directly to the needs of the public safety DICO's. All information provided regarding diseases and infection control will be evidence-based, which will facilitate appropriate policy and procedure development and cost-benefit analysis.
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a safety communication recommending consumers, health care providers, and facilities to not use certain surgical N95 respirators by O&M Halyard, and to use caution with certain surgical masks and pediatric face masks by O&M Halyard.
The FDA is aware of laboratory test results that show certain models of O&M Halyard surgical N95 respirators, surgical masks, and pediatric face masks do not meet quality and performance expectations and may not provide expected fluid barrier protection to the wearer. The FDA is continuing its evaluation.