Sunday, March 22, 2015

THE HOME USE OF MEDICAL OXYGEN IS INCREASINGLY PROBLEMATIC: N.H. MAN KILLED IN FIRE WAS SMOKING, USING OXYGEN









MARCH 21, 2015

MILTON, NEW HAMPSHIRE

When medical oxygen is not used according to directions, the patient and others are at risk of fire or explosions, burns, potential death as well as property damage. 

A 59-year-old man who died in a one-alarm fire Thursday night at a Depot Pond Road residence had been smoking while using oxygen, according to the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal's Office.

The cause and manner of death of Anthony Disciscio is pending laboratory test results being conducted by the state Medical Examiner's Office, according to District Chief Stacey Dubois of the Fire Marshal's Office.

The fire at 23 Depot Pond Road was reported just after 9 p.m. by a neighbor who heard the smoke alarm and reported that a person was inside.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze, which was in the kitchen, in about 20 minutes.

Disciscio died in the blaze. His body was found on the kitchen floor, officials said.

The fire remains under investigation by the Fire Marshal's Office, Milton fire and police.

Dubois said there was minimal damage to the home, where Disciscio was a tenant.

She said preliminary indications are the fire was accidental and "occurred as a result of smoking materials in close proximity to medical oxygen."

In a news release jointly issued by State Fire Marshal J. William Degnan, Milton Fire Chief Nicholas Marique and Milton Police Chief Richard Krauss, Degnan issued a warning about the extreme dangers of smoking while using or in proximity to medical oxygen.

Rapid fire development and increased intensity can occur, causing serious injury or death, he said.

Smoking is the leading cause of burns, reported fires, deaths and injuries involving home medical oxygen.  About 73 percent of the medical oxygen-related burns are caused by smoking.

Technically, fire is defined as a rapid oxidation process, which is a chemical reaction resulting in the evolution of light and heat in varying intensities. 

 Oxygen is one of three parts of the fire triangle.  A heat source and fuel (something that can burn) are also required.  Oxygen itself is not flammable.  The heat triggers a chemical reaction between the oxygen and fuel molecules.  Normally, air is 21% oxygen.  Increased oxygen makes more oxygen available for the chemical reaction, meaning that any fire that occurs will burn faster and hotter.  

Increased oxygen also lowers the temperature at which things will ignite, including hair, clothing, plastic, skin oils, furniture, etc. Because oxygen is colorless and odorless, elevated levels are not detectable by human senses. 

In many ignitions associated with home medical oxygen, only the area around the patient’s face was enriched.  However, melted tubing, leaks, and other equipment breaches can result in a much larger enriched area.

Most of the medical literature on incidents involving home medical oxygen has focused on patients treated at burn centers or included in burn registries. In most cases, only the patient was hurt, although some involved death to other household members or building occupants.

Source: The New Hampshire Union Leader, Manchester