Oxygen Cylinder Precautions

Oxygen is vital for life. We would all perish without a continuous and sustained supply of the life giving gas. Most of us do not spare a thought for the gas that we breathe in but at times patients, particularly terminally ill patients may require additional oxygen in order to continue their life normally. However, we need to be extremely careful when we have to use oxygen at home.

Smoking- You should never smoke while wearing an oxygen equipment. The gas, being highly inflammable may catch fire from your cigarette within seconds. It is mandatory to continue smoking only after you get rid of the high concentration of oxygen present in your hair and body.

Concentrators- It is advisable to plug in the oxygen concentrator properly into a grounded electrical outlet. It is not wise to use an extention cord for delivering high concentrations of oxygen. Most medical companies provide longer tubes on request and using a proper oxygen tubing is a necessary safety measure.

Storage- Storing the spare oxygen tanks properly is necessary for safety. The tanks should be kept upright and stored in a well ventilated place. Every precaution must be taken to see that they do not topple over. It is also better to open the valve slowly so that it does not ignite accidentally. It is  wise to keep the tanks well away from candles, gas stoves and other sources of fire.

Touch- Liquid oxygen can freeze your skin and delicate tissues within minutes. Touching of liquid oxygen tanks and frosted metal parts of the container can be dangerous. Breathing in the vapors released by highly concentrated oxygen may adversely affect your health.

Precautions- Keeping a fire extinguisher within easy reach will help you to put out any accidental fires started from the portable oxygen cylinder. Wearing cotton clothing while in vicinity of the oxygen tank is mandatory.  Presence of petroleum jelly on your skin or on the tank as a sealant will act as a potential fire hazard.