Oxygen Concentrator

[JPO]

I am using an oxygen concentrator which is keeping my oxygen at the proper level and is helping my sleep. Literature indicates that the oxygen is 96% concentrated which, not being a chemist, does it mean 96% of pure oxygen? And, is the 96% concentrated oxygen flammable?

Thanks for your responses.

JPO

[JohnBFisher]

Yes, an oxygen concentrator extracts oxygen from the air and concentrates it, often storing it into a tank until needed. For some information on how this works, see:

http://www.oxygenconcentrators.org/info ... atorswork/

You also wondered:

... does it mean 96% of pure oxygen? And, is the 96% concentrated oxygen flammable? ...

Yes and YES! Please read your user manual for your unit. To use oxygen with your xPAP unit, you need to do things in the correct order to avoid a fire hazard.

To start the use of xPAP and oxygen:

1. Start the xPAP unit
2. Start the O2 concentrator

To stop the use of xPAP and oxygen

1. Stop the O2 concentrator
2. Stop the xPAP unit

Hope that helps.

[jules]

there are other certain precautions that should be in place - no flames in the area - might be restrictions on how close to heat vents the concentrator can be - I have run into people whose DME's say that can't use O2 in a house with a gas stove

check with the renting DME (for the O2) and go over a list of their safety precautions with them.

[Goofproof]

Actually O2 isn't flammable. O2 is a oxidizer. O2 supports combustion of a fuel. (Anything that will burn) The higher O2 level the lower the ignition temp to start a fire. Yes it is dangerous, when exposed to a fuel ans a source of ign. When using O2 you want to mind the safety rules. Jim

[Severeena]

Firemen do not use oxygen to go into a burning building because they know those tanks will explode.

We have oxygen concentrator and O2 tanks in use signs on our front door.

I worked very closely with our local fire department because I am a former ADV-EMT.

I was a person that could start IV's and hook up the heart monitor.

I am very fmailiar with O2.

[rjjayrt]

You should always keep your concentrator at least 10 feet away from an open flame. That would include your tubing as well when the concentrator is on. Gas stoves should be no problem if the patient is instructed well. The reason you put your oxygen on when using cpap is so precise is to avoid a rush of oxygen from your cpap tubing, the cpap machine is used to blow out the oxygen when not in use. Cpap on then oxygen (this allows whatever oxygen which may of accumulated in the tubing to wash out.) Oxygen off then cpap off. Same reason. Teh reason this is important is for those who may be CO2 retainers, too much oxygen is not good for them...

[JPO]

Thanks for all the responses! As always, everyone is very helpful here.

[grady61]

There is a valve you can buy that is supposed to prevent backflow of oxygen or moisture back into your xpap. Resperonics reccomends it in their manuals under O2 use. How well it works I dont know.

[rjjayrt]

Respironics actually has the valve and o2 entrainment piece. They work fine. But it still doesn't change the procedure for turning on and off, it just doesn't allow O2 to creep into the CPAP machine.