Playing It Safe

As a longtime registered respiratory therapist who is now an associate of The Corridor Group, a home medical equipment consulting firm based in Overland Park, Kan., Tim Hogan has kept a keen eye on the long-term oxygen therapy market. In doing so, he's heard some horror stories from oxygen providers:

An oxygen patient died from burns suffered when her hair caught on fire as her attendant brushed her hair, then sprayed it with hair spray while the patient wore her cannula;

A portable oxygen cylinder, propelled by the heat build-up in a closed, parked car, took off like a rocket. Heat caused the cylinder's safety relief valves to activate, and it shot through the car's back window;

A woman wearing her cannula was severely burned when grease from the bacon she was cooking on her electric grill splattered and melted the cannula to her face.

All too often, Hogan says, the headlines identify oxygen-related fires in the home. He also notes last year's Houston tragedy when, according to news reports, a bus carrying elderly nursing home residents away from Hurricane Rita caught fire and passengers' oxygen tanks exploded. Twenty-four of the evacuees were killed.

Such horrendous events underscore the need for providers to place an emphasis on oxygen safety, Hogan says.

“We have to discuss safety with the patient,” he says. “We have to provide them with written and verbal [instructions].”

Safety tips aren't just for the patient's protection, although that is foremost, says Hogan, especially now that the Deficit Reduction Act transfers equipment ownership to Medicare oxygen beneficiaries after 36 months. “It's incumbent upon business owners to limit their liability,” he says.

Here are some of Hogan's safety tips for oxygen therapy users:

• “No smoking” guidelines should be enforced. Patients who smoke must not smoke or light up while wearing oxygen and should be at least 10 feet away from the oxygen equipment when they do smoke. They should never smoke in bed, with or without oxygen.

• Do not use oxygen with facial oils or lotions that are petroleum-based (such as Vaseline). Use only water-based creams and lotions.

• Keep equipment away from obvious heat sources such as a radiator, fireplace, hot water heater, etc.

• Set up oxygen equipment in an area with good ventilation. Don't store oxygen cylinders in closets or closed vehicles, such as the trunk of a car or in the car without the windows being cracked.