You should never use an oxygen concentrator around open flames, such as gas stoves, bonfires, barbecues and candles. Cold food preparation and using a microwave are safe to do while wearing oxygen.
DON'T use any electrical appliance while on oxygen.
Keep Away from Heat and Flame
Keep sources of heat and flame at least five feet away from where your oxygen unit is being used or stored. Don't use oxygen while cooking with gas. Don't use any electrical appliances such as hair dryers, curling irons, heating pads and electric razors while wearing oxygen.
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, don't allow the frosted parts to come into contact with your skin. It can cause a frostbite skin injury.
Use electronic equipment such as vacuum cleaners or electric blankets while using oxygen. These need to be at least 5 feet from oxygen. Use more than 50 feet of oxygen tubing. For portable oxygen concentrators, no more than 30 feet of tubing.
Do not use your oxygen within six feet of electrical appliances, especially stoves, heaters, toasters, or hair dryers. Do not use your oxygen in an area where combustible materials, such as oils, greases, aerosol sprays, lotions, or solvents, are present. Do not use petroleum-based products while oxygen is in use.
Do not use electrical equipment in an oxygen-enriched environment. Examples include electric razors, hairdryers, electric blankets, or electric heaters. Electrical equipment may spark and cause a fire. Cell phones are okay.
Turn on the Sleep Mode or Intelligent Delivery Technology. Doing this will enable the oxygen concentrator to work specifically for night use. Switch to a continuous flow if you use CPAP or BiPAP machine for other respiratory treatments. Ensure that the oxygen mask or cannula does not make you feel uncomfortable.
If you use a cannula, wear it while you eat to give your body the oxygen it needs for healthy digestion. Don't overeat. Give your lungs and diaphragm more room to do their job by not filling your stomach too much. Eat smaller meals and more often.
While your oxygen tanks can help you enjoy some outdoor fun and summer activities with friends and family, please ensure that you are keeping them safe from extreme heat, humidity, and water. The high temperatures that summer brings can be hard on oxygen tanks and oxygen concentrators.
Never use heating pads or electric blankets when wearing your cannula. Turn your oxygen off when you aren't using it even if you plan to use it again in a few minutes. Don't set the cannula on your bed or any other surface when oxygen is flowing.
If you are dependent on oxygen, it is safe to use the oxygen while in the shower. You can drape the oxygen supply hose safely over the shower door, shower rod, or side of the tub. While washing your face, it should be safe to remove the nasal cannula while you do so.
DO NOT use petroleum-based ointments or lotions in or around your nose, such as Vaseline, Vicks, Chapstick, etc. Oxygen can react violently with these oily substances and can cause burns. Keep all oxygen equipment at least 15 feet from any type of open flame. Take care to avoid open flames while using oxygen.
Oxygen concentrators do not need to be refilled. The concentrators run on electrical power and thus supply an unlimited amount of oxygen. Portable concentrators can be used in an “on-the-go” mode with a battery pack, resulting in up to 12 h of continuous use for some models.
Using oxygen: Things to avoid
Flammable liquids, such as cleaning fluid, paint thinner and aerosols (for example hair spray or deodorant) Alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
The oxygen is usually delivered through a nasal cannula which will allow you to talk, eat and drink. Sometimes a mask may be provided, which goes over the mouth and nose.
Oxygen DOs
Do keep sources of flame at least 5 feet away from where your oxygen unit is being used or stored. This includes cigarettes, matches, candles, fireplaces, gas burners, pipes, or anything else that could start a fire. Never smoke or use an open flame when wearing oxygen.
What are the risks of using oxygen therapy? Oxygen therapy is generally safe, but it can cause side effects. They include a dry or bloody nose, tiredness, and morning headaches. Oxygen poses a fire risk, so you should never smoke or use flammable materials when using oxygen.
The median survival time was 1.9 years (IQR, 0.7 to 4.0 years). Main causes of death included respiratory disease (68%), cardiovascular disease (20%) and cancer (6%). In the cohort, 539 (24%) patients were prescribed LTOT 24 h/day, 1,231 (55%) were prescribed 15 h/day and 470 (21%) had other daily durations prescribed.
Oil free preparations should be used where there will be direct contact with oxygen, for example, on the face including nasal passages and lips, due to the risk associated with high pressure gases and oil based products. Paraffin based products can also block nasal prongs as well as being a fire risk.
Never charge or use any electrical appliances, such as electric razors, hairdryers or electronic cigarettes, whilst using your oxygen equipment. Oxygen will remain in clothing for up to 20 minutes after the oxygen equipment has been turned off.
Never smoke inside a home where supplemental oxygen is in use. Smoking while on oxygen increases the risk of fire. Once ignited, fires burn hotter and more rapidly in oxygen-rich surroundings.
If used continuously at 2 liters per minute, an "E" tank will last about 5–6 hours.