OSAP responds to Katrina disaster by establishing online resource

Sept. 6, 2005
Topics include dental office recovery, food safety, hand washing in emergency situations, infectious disease after a hurricane, water contamination, re-use of medical devices, and worker safety during cleanup.

The Organization for Safety & Asepsis Procedures (OSAP) has responded to the disaster wrought by Hurricane Katrina by establishing a comprehensive list of resources for dental professionals at www.osap.org. The non-profit organization is using its website to provide links to vital information that can help dental professionals provide safe dental care under emergency conditions.

While many individuals, companies, and organizations are contributing to the relief effort, OSAP is in a unique position to assist with an issue of great concern now: preventing infection and the spread of disease in the affected region. To that end, OSAP is using its website to create a clearinghouse for information of immediate interest to dental professionals. Topics include dental office recovery, food safety, hand washing in emergency situations, infectious disease after a hurricane, water contamination, re-use of medical devices, and worker safety during cleanup. The website is being updated frequently to keep information current.

OSAP is the Organization for Safety and Asepsis Procedures. Founded in 1984, the non-profit association is dentistry's premier resource for infection control and safety information. Through its publications, courses, website, and worldwide collaborations, OSAP and the tax-exempt OSAP Foundation support education, research, service, and policy development to promote safety and the control of infectious diseases in dental healthcare settings worldwide.