By Julie Randolph, Information and Access Care Coordination Manager
According to the American Thoracic Society more than 1.5 million Americans use supplemental oxygen for respiratory disorders. According to emergency room data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, improper use of home medical oxygen results in an average of 1,041 thermal burns annually. Fire departments respond to an estimated average of 228 home fires per year, in which oxygen administration equipment was the cause of ignition. An estimated ninety-six people per year died in those fires. An estimated 570,000 falls are caused annually by tripping on the tubing.
Tips for safe use:
- Adjust the length of the tubing based on activity level.
- Request tubing in a bright color, as the transparent tubing blends with the floor, causing an invisible obstacle.
- Do not use oil, grease, Vaseline, or any other flammable substance on your oxygen equipment or on your skin near the equipment. Use water-based products only.
- If frost forms on your liquid oxygen equipment, do not allow frosted parts to meet your skin. It can cause frostbite skin injury.
- Never smoke near an oxygen tank. Stay at least five feet from flames, including gas stoves, candles, fireplaces and firepits or electrical appliances, such as toasters, hair dryers, or heaters, when using oxygen.
- Secure oxygen tanks in an upright position to a stand or fixed object. Never roll an oxygen cylinder.
- Notify the fire department and the electric company that you are using oxygen.
- Place “Oxygen in Use” signs in visible areas. Never smoke when the oxygen source is in your residence. Do not allow anyone else to smoke.
- Always turn your oxygen off when not in use and check the oxygen levels on your oxygen tank. This includes the backup tank as well as the tank that is in use.
- Check the oxygen tubing for cracks and leaks. Clean the nasal prongs to keep them open.
- Get into the habit of checking the batteries of your smoke detector every month and change batteries as needed. Have fire extinguishers on hand.
- Do not use an extension cord with the concentrator. Plug the concentrator into a grounded electrical outlet. Do not plug it into an outlet used by other appliances.
- Never place the concentrator against the wall, curtains, or furniture, or in a closet. Room air must freely flow into the unit.
- When traveling by car, do not allow anyone to smoke in the car. Keep the window slightly open. Place your oxygen unit on the floor next to you or the seat next to you. Secure the oxygen unit with a seat belt whenever possible. Never leave portable oxygen in a car parked in the hot sun.
