Learn how to manage your oxygen equipment to enhance your quality of life oxygen cylinder at home.
Many people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary fibrosis, and other lung diseases eventually require supplemental oxygen therapy to reduce breathlessness. However, receiving a prescription for home oxygen can feel distressing. Suddenly, everyone who encounters you will know you have some sort of medical condition that requires you to use oxygen.
As you navigate the challenges of setting up and using home oxygen therapy, remember it can greatly improve your quality of life as your, pulmonary fibrosis or another lung disease progresses.
Follow these tips and use an oxygen cylinder at home.
Talk with family in advance for o2
The first time your lung croaker brings up the content of oxygen antidote, go home and have a chat with family members about how this will affect your life. Let them know the oxygen will allow you to stay active and continue to do the belongings you enjoy doing with them.
Ask for their support as you learn to acclimate to using home and mobile oxygen. These chats may help keep life as normal as possible as you get started on oxygen antidote.
Understand your concentrator’s maintenance requirements
Many people receive an oxygen concentrator for home oxygen therapy. This machine can reside in a discreet corner and deliver oxygen to your nose through a long tube that can reach throughout the home.
When the home oxygen supplier sets up your concentrator, talk to them about required concentrator maintenance. For example, concentrators with a filter require a periodic filter change.
Replace your tubing and cannulas on a schedule
Supplemental oxygen therapy uses two separate pieces of tubing: a long tube that connects to the concentrator or tank, and a nasal cannula that attaches to the tubing and delivers the oxygen to your nostrils. Ask your oxygen supplier how often to change the main tubing and the cannula.
In general, you should change the cannula frequently even if it does not appear to be soiled. The tubing should be changed every month or two.
Keep extra tubing and cannulas close at hand
Always keep extra oxygen tubing and cannulas within easy reach in case either item becomes damaged during use. It’s not difficult to accidentally run a vacuum cleaner over a section of tubing, for example, and cut it.
Having extra tubing nearby will help you avoid disruption of oxygen flow oxygen cylinder at home…
Have a plan for power outages
If your home loses electricity, your oxygen concentrator may not work. To avoid losing your oxygen supply during a power outage, write down an action plan. Your plan should include switching immediately to a portable oxygen tank until your power is restored.
Should you run out of oxygen before the electricity comes back on, call for medical assistance. If you have the ability, some people choose to purchase a home backup generator.
Clean the humidifier often
If you use a humidifier bottle with your oxygen concentrator, clean it very frequently. Bacteria can build up rapidly in humidifier attachments.
Remove the bottle and wash it with soap and water weekly.
Practice fire safety
Oxygen itself is not flammable or explosive, but oxygen concentrators and tanks both infuse the environment with oxygen. They can cause fires to burn much more rapidly than normal. Keep oxygen equipment such as tanks away from any source of an open flame.
Ask your doctor or home oxygen supplier about safe cooking practices if you use a gas range. Above all, do not allow anyone to smoke in your oxygen-rich environment.
