Frequently asked questions on oxygen
What is oxygen used for?
Medical oxygen is widely used in clinical practice to provide a basis for most modern anaesthetic techniques including pre and postoperative management.
It is used to restore the tissue oxygen tension towards normal by improving oxygen availability in a wide range of conditions such as:
- cyanosis of recent origin as a result of cardio-pulmonary disease
- surgical trauma, chest wounds and rib fracture
- shock, severe haemorrhage and coronary occlusion
- carbon monoxide poisoning
- hyperpyrexia
- major trauma, i.e. road traffic accidents and gunshot wounds
- in the management of sudden cardiac and respiratory arrest, whether drug induced or traumatic
- in the resuscitation of all the critically ill, when the circulation is impaired
- in neo-natal resuscitation.
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NextHow do I transport oxygen cylinders?
If you need to transport oxygen cylinders ideally you should use a vehicle that has been designed for the purpose. However, if you need to carry oxygen for your own personal use we would recommend that:
- You restrict the number of cylinders being carried to a minimum.
- You secure and transport the cylinders in a separate compartment in the vehicle (such as the boot). They need to be secured ideally with a Cargo net or fixed with a Karibiner and strap.
- There should be adequate ventilation within the car
- We would also advise you to inform your Insurance company
There are no specific regulations covering the carriage of small quantities of medical gases in small cylinders. However, it makes sense to follow the requirements of the regulations covering the transport of gases in larger quantities. We recommend that you carry a transport emergency card (TREM card), which provides information for yourself and the emergency services on how cylinders should be handled in an emergency.
Printed TREM cards can be provided by BOC Healthcare for its customers upon request (0800 111 333).
You may also display a (green diamond) compressed gases safety sign on the vehicle when cylinders are being transported. Windscreen signs are available from BOC Healthcare.
Is it safe to use lotions which contain petroleum bases?
Although, the risks are small, there have been a number of recorded instances where both patients and nursing staff have been involved in incidents resulting in burns to hands and face when using hand creams and other petroleum based lotions.
BOC would always advise that these products should be avoided when using oxygen therapy. If the patient needs to use moisturisers for the lips and nose when breathing oxygen, we recommend the use of KY Jelly or RoEezit, the latter is also recommended by the European Industrial Gases Association (EIGA).
Is it safe to use alcohol gel when using oxygen?
Yes, it is, but you must ensure that the gel is massaged well into the hands and allowed to evaporate before using oxygen equipment. Particular care is needed to ensure that the gel has evaporated from the areas between the fingers.
Are there issues with alcohol wipes and oxygen flows?
Alcohol wipes can be used to clean the body of cylinders to remove any dirt or contamination that may be present, However, they must not be used on the cylinder valve or the regulator as there is a risk of ignition if the alcohol is not allowed to evaporate.
If used to clean the cylinder, please allow enough time for the alcohol to evaporate before using the gas. If the cylinder valve is contaminated, the cylinder should not be used. Contact BOC for further advice.
When should I consider moving to bulk liquid oxygen supply?
Once your oxygen consumption increases to over 24 J size cylinders a month, it is worth considering changing to liquid oxygen for your supply option. Contact your local BOC Account Manager to provide you with more information to convert to liquid oxygen.
Are there any circumstances when oxygen should not be used?
Medical oxygen can be prescribed safely for the majority of patients without any associated risks. In all cases it should be used as prescribed.
There are few instances where care is needed when prescribing oxygen. These include:
- Use in neonates
- Chronic Obstruction Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients who are hypercapnic
- Patients prescribed bleomycim and amiodarone
- Patients who have consumed paraquat
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