Bipap/ CPAP fell.

My son is 8. He started using a bipap a month ago, after using a CPAP for a year for OSA, and now having centralized apnea. He has other mental health diagnosis as well. His bipap fell off the stand about a week ago, and when I plugged it back in, it would turn on the first couple times, but then it did, and it shot water out the mask, 4 to 6 ounces. I had not been comfortable to have him wear it since, so I put his CPAP back in use. Last night I heard him moving around so I looked to see if his mask was still in place and it was. About 15 min later my husband said did you put his mask in the floor, and I jumped up off the bed to find it upside down on the floor. My husband pick up the machine as I took the mask off my son. There was water in the hose, as he detached it, it fell out through the mask, soaking it and the head gear. My question is how do you know that the inside of these machines are dry and safe again? I don't want my son to "breathe"water! My husband has ran both machines, and they turn on and blow air, but Im thinking I won't use anything on him tonight. Any one have same experiences?

Sorry about your son’s health issues. Both machines shoould be fine if they you have drained any water and they are normally blowing air.

It's not clear (to me) whether your son is ding this consciously, or whether it's happening while he's asleep.

IF it's the latter, you might try tuying the machine down in some fashion.

A suggestion to prevent the machine from falling off his nightstand - if this is an option with your furniture - is to place it in the drawer rather than on top of it? Maybe the nightstand could be placed sideways so the drawer will only open as far as the bed, to stop if from sliding out and the whole thing crashing down?

Or maybe putting it on the floor? I don't know if that is a good idea or not, I just know the machine is supposed to be lower than your head.

I'm sorry that your son needs this, it must be difficult every night when you tuck him in.

I worry about this myself. Perhaps devising a means of strapping it to a table or stand to prevent it from happening again? I don't know about the water part.

Gionmig wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 28, 2018 10:49 pm

My son is 8. He started using a bipap a month ago, after using a CPAP for a year for OSA, and now having centralized apnea. He has other mental health diagnosis as well. His bipap fell off the stand about a week ago, and when I plugged it back in, it would turn on the first couple times, but then it did, and it shot water out the mask, 4 to 6 ounces. I had not been comfortable to have him wear it since, so I put his CPAP back in use. Last night I heard him moving around so I looked to see if his mask was still in place and it was. About 15 min later my husband said did you put his mask in the floor, and I jumped up off the bed to find it upside down on the floor. My husband pick up the machine as I took the mask off my son. There was water in the hose, as he detached it, it fell out through the mask, soaking it and the head gear. My question is how do you know that the inside of these machines are dry and safe again? I don't want my son to "breathe"water! My husband has ran both machines, and they turn on and blow air, but Im thinking I won't use anything on him tonight. Any one have same experiences?

Most likely cause of water in the hosing is condensation. What machine? What are the humidity settings? Do you have climate/heated hose? Placement of the machine and tubing can also cause water to collect in parts of the tubing. It's best to keep the machine below head level and extend the hose upwards from the machine so that there is no "dip" that water can pool in for the first few feet. I run the hose upwards over my headboard with the machine about 8" below my head. Any condensation that forms will fall harmlessly back into the machine.

Try lowering humidity settings or getting a heated hose if you don't already have one and it's available for your machine.

I like the shelf that attaches to the bed, right between the mattress and foundation.
It comes with a strap, so the machine is secure.

chunkyfrog wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 29, 2018 12:02 pm

I like the shelf that attaches to the bed, right between the mattress and foundation.
It comes with a strap, so the machine is secure.

This....^^^^^

One other thing to consider before you buy anything more expensive then a few dollars... if your kid has a headboard you could thread the hose through or around you could get a 12" piece of self stick velcro like they use to hold bundles of rope or wire. Give just a few inches of slack from where the machine rests to where it is threaded through the headboard then secure the hose tonthe headboard, there with the velcro. If your kid is getting out of bed or pulling on the hose and that is what is knocking the machine in the floor securing the hose to something that isnt movable should stop that.

On the other hand if your worried that your child is actually dumping the machine it self into the floor you may want to invest in a device that would let you secure the machine it self. IE by placing it inside a drawer and drilling vent holes and a hose hole in the back or if you prefer not to modify the furniture the portable cpap shelf mentioned above with velcro strap would be a good choice.

As for water in the hose... water can form in the hose naturally due to condensation. If you dont already have one. Try and get a heated hose if his machine can use it.. also making or investing in a fleece hose cover will help insulate the hose from the ambient air temp in the bedroom. But mostly it will cover the medical like hose and make it softer and more like a bed accessory. Like a blanket or stuffed animal. I've been using a soft hose cover for the last 10 years and can tell you if I had a choice I prefer the cover vs not.

If your machines still work. You shouldn't be worried that there is still a quantity of water trapped inside the machine that could shoot out later. The only chance of a large quantity of water doing that is if the machine was over turned and the air pressure from the machine pushed the water from the humidifier chamber up the hose.

Best wishes,

Gryphon