Home oxygen is prescribed to patients who have difficulty
inhaling sufficient oxygen through their lungs. Sea-level atmospheric air
contains about 21 percent oxygen, whereas home oxygen delivery systems usually
administer almost 100 percent oxygen, greatly increasing the amount of oxygen
absorbed into the bloodstream through the lungs. Home oxygen systems typically
come in three different forms: liquid oxygen, compressed oxygen and oxygen
concentrators. Home oxygen systems can be very beneficial for people with
breathing difficulties; however, care should always be taken when using a home
oxygen system, because they do present some dangers.
Increased Fire Risk
Contrary to popular belief, oxygen itself is not flammable.
Instead, an oxygen-rich environment causes everything within it to burn faster
and hotter. Oxygen can even make some materials burn that are not normally
flammable. For example, Nomex, which is the material used to make the fireproof
clothing firefighters wear, can be lit on fire in an oxygen-rich environment,
explains the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.
Petroleum products pose a special hazard in high oxygen environments. Any
product containing petroleum, such as some skin lotions, chapsticks or
lubricants, may spontaneously self-ignite when brought into oxygen-rich
environments.
Smoking Risks
Because of the increased fire danger caused by oxygen, a
person using home oxygen should never smoke or be in the same room as a person
smoking while the oxygen tank is turned on. The flame from a match or lighter,
and even the ember burning at the end of a cigarette, can cause any nearby
materials--such as clothing, hair or furniture--to burst into flame. Severe
burns on the face have resulted from people smoking while using home oxygen,
reports an article published in the October 1998 issue of the British Medical
Journal. Similarly, a person using an oxygen canister should stay away from
candles and gas appliances, including gas stoves and water heaters.
Rapid Decompression
Compressed oxygen tanks also pose a danger of turning into
an airborne projectile due to rapid decompression. The oxygen in compressed
tanks is under extremely high pressure. If the valve on top of the tank is
damaged and begins to leak, the oxygen will spray out of the tank at rapid
velocity, which can cause the tank to "take off like a rocket," warns
the United States Fire Administration. Compressed oxygen cylinders should
always be placed in a secure position or attached to a carrier to reduce the
risk of a tank falling over and damaging the valve. In addition, the oxygen
tank should never be carried or dragged while holding on to the valve itself.
Additional Risks
Oxygen masks worn on the face for long periods of time can
cause irritation to the face and may rub away the skin, leading to open sores,
the British Medical Journal reports. Alternatively, if oxygen is delivered
through tubes in the nose, which are known as nasal cannulae, the nasal
passages may become very dried out, sometimes leading to cracked skin. Liquid
oxygen systems carry the added risk of frostbite. Oxygen can only be stored as
a liquid at very low temperatures. As a result, the metal connectors between
parts of the oxygen system may also become very cold, and may cause frostbite
if they come into contact with skin