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Whenever there's any whiff of bad winter weather, I always take my travel cpap with hose, mask, extension cord, small bottle of distilled water, and battery backup. It's always packed and ready to take to work with me, so I don't have to worry about forgetting something. I also keep a prepacked overnight bag with a change of clothes, nightshirt, and hygiene stuff in the car during much of the winter.

I never leave my machine out in the car during cold weather--but it's because I'm much more concerned about condensation inside the cpap when it hits the warm inside air than I am about theft. Not sure if there are grounds for that concern, but I don't want to risk finding out. (Edit: Whoops--looks like fuzzy96 & I were writing at the same time...sorry for the redundancy).

plr66 wrote:
I never leave my machine out in the car during cold weather--but it's because I'm much more concerned about condensation inside the cpap when it hits the warm inside air than I am about theft. Not sure if there are grounds for that concern, but I don't want to risk finding out. (Edit: Whoops--looks like fuzzy96 & I were writing at the same time...sorry for the redundancy).

dang prl was that you in my head?
or maybe the mother ship got thier communications network screwwed up

idamtnboy wrote:One of the best descriptions of the discomfort of being stranded I've ever heard was from a guy who worked at the nuclear test site in Nevada. They were stuck out there, miles from the city, because of weather or a crash project, I don't recall. "There we were, stuck out there for 10 days and no change of shorts!"

What? They never heard of washing in the sink? I feel really well protected by bright these guys!

I have a backup / second system and it stays in the car < NOTHING in the machine will FREEZE > never carry water in the machine just a bottle of water outside the case. In the three years I have had to use it 4 times as emergency and on every trip I take. I also RECOMMEND you teach your significant Other how to set up your system - I was take into the hospital and THEY didn't know how to set things up and wanted to mess with pressure settings and GOD know what else! Carry extra filters and a battery backup which has only been used twice < But worth a ZILLION $$ both times > once with a power outage while on a trip and staying in a motel -- the other was a weather stranding in Montana ?
The system is covered by your insurance < Home owners > and the bag / case is well marked as medical equipment along with stickers with my name & address. I would like to have somebody steal it so I could get a NEW ONE and switch the system at home to my travel unit. . . Just wouldn't be without the backup system.
Another GREAT ITEM is a FREE Medic Alert Card http://www.medids.com/free-id.php
My health and well being is only controlled by me -so- HOW MUCH is it worth to YOU?
Bert

Leaving your cpap machine in a protective case in the trunk of your car in cold weather should not harm the machine.

Just to be clear, I am not planning on leaving the machine in the car all the time or during the day. I will only take it from my house on bad weather days, and when I get to work I will take it inside with me. No worries there.

WestCoastCdnGrl wrote:Oh, and thanks for the emergency preparedness reminder... I really should look into getting a CPAP kit together to go with my earthquake kit..

Hey WestCoast CdnGrl when you find that reasonably price back up machine with batteries let me know. I'm looking for something like that.

idamtnboy wrote:One of the best descriptions of the discomfort of being stranded I've ever heard was from a guy who worked at the nuclear test site in Nevada. They were stuck out there, miles from the city, because of weather or a crash project, I don't recall. "There we were, stuck out there for 10 days and no change of shorts!"

After 10 days, I'd bury my shorts in a concrete bunker. john

I do not have an oximeter. Maybe I should buy one. Does anyone have a suggestion on which one to get? Thanks.

Jaylee wrote:I do not have an oximeter. Maybe I should buy one. Does anyone have a suggestion on which one to get? Thanks.

?? Are you looking for something that is a recording oximeter or just a small unit??
I keep a small blood pressure cuff and small oximeter in my CPAP case and when I'm not feeling very good I can CHECK!
For $38 < CMS50DL Fingertip Pulse Oximeter > It's a Good tool to own... http://www.oximetersonline.com/
Bert

I have the CMS 50E oximeter and prefer it (or one like it) because it will record data overnight while you sleep and can be uploaded io your computer for analysis.

If you are caught without your cpap it tells you what happens during the night. I have the alarm on it turned off but if I was in a position where I was sleeping without my cpap machine, I would put the alarm on to wake me if my oxygen levels drop below acceptable.

Jaylee wrote:I do not have an oximeter. Maybe I should buy one. Does anyone have a suggestion on which one to get? Thanks.

JayLee, I'm going to buy the CMS60D, it's a handheld with a finger clip that runs on AA batteries so there's no need to re-charge it which rules out many pulse oxs. I want one that will work for days if I need it to work that long without re-charging.

Jaylee wrote:I do not have an oximeter. Maybe I should buy one. Does anyone have a suggestion on which one to get? Thanks.

I've got one you can have. But a friend is borrowing it.

brain_cloud wrote:

Jaylee wrote:I do not have an oximeter. Maybe I should buy one. Does anyone have a suggestion on which one to get? Thanks.

I've got one you can have. But a friend is borrowing it.

Are you trying to get back on my good sign, Mr. Cloudy Person?

Your bribes will not sway me.

Jaylee wrote:

brain_cloud wrote:

Jaylee wrote:I do not have an oximeter. Maybe I should buy one. Does anyone have a suggestion on which one to get? Thanks.

I've got one you can have. But a friend is borrowing it.

Are you trying to get back on my good sign, Mr. Cloudy Person?

Your bribes will not sway me.

That a bribe will not sway a woman is unheard of. Unless, like some gynecomorphous Ullyses, you have had yourself lashed to the mast and wax poured in your ears, I take my oath that you will be swayed by this intoxicating present.