Whats a safe smoking distance from an Oxygen Concentrator?

FishOil wrote:I can't tell if thats sarcasm Gumby. BTW, theyve smoked a good 15 feet away in the next room a few times and nothing bad has happened. Never while its on though, always hours and hours after its been turned off.

Even if you smoke yourself while using it, most of the time, nothing will happen. It's that one time in 100 where you turn into the human torch that matters. It's like drunk driving. Just because you get away with it a whole bunch of times doesn't mean it's not going to kill you the next time.

And as I said before, nothing's going to burst into flames anyway if someone smokes near it a few minutes after it's turned off.

Fishoil,

I'm glad you got your safety questions answered (sort - of). I agree with the posters who say you need an explanation for why you are on oxygen. It is unusual and it's also unusual that you'd be put on it with no explanation. There are reasons to use oxygen but it's not like ordinary obstructive sleep apnea where it's pretty typical to just have a cpap shoved into your hands and be sent on your way.

Finally, if you haven't done it already, you may want to check what the oxygen is going to cost you. Even people with good insurance can find it expensive and student insurance isn't usually that good. For that matter you need to know what the Bipap will cost you too.

midnightowl

Yeah they didn't tell me what it costs either. However I'm on my parents Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance

FishOil mentioned in another thread that the 02 is due to SOB due to excessive weight.

Guess so. I don't know why I forgot to mention I'm really overweight before.

Why would you mention it in this thread unless asked WHY you were on 02? The subject of this thread is what is a safe smoking distance from an 02 concentrator.

In my situation w/COPD and 02 concentrator use I just avoid smoking in the same room as my concentrator. Those around me respect this.

Dead serious. As in serious as a heart attack.

archangle wrote:Oxygen can build up in your hair or clothing. When you turn the machine off and leave the room, you may still be highly flammable until it dissipates. This site says "The Massachusetts Department of Fire Services recommends that, if you cannot stop smoking, you turn your oxygen off, wait for 10 minutes to allow high oxygen concentrations to leave your hair and clothing, and then go outside in the open air to smoke."

i.e. if you take off the machine, and go into the next room and brush against a cigarette, you may turn into the human torch.
<snip>
You really need to get good instructions from your provider.

<snip> Of course, as you run through the house burning and screaming, you may spread the fire around the house.

I wouldn't take any chances.

But you also said everyones being extreme

FishOil wrote:But you also said everyones being extreme

I guess it boils down to who YOU believe. AND do YOU feel lucky today?

If you still want to question after 4 pages of advice, you must feel lucky. Jim

FishOil wrote:But you also said everyones being extreme

Flaming death is the latest extreme sport.

Yes, we're stating the worst case scenario. Flaming death 1/10 of 1 percent of the times you use oxygen lets you average 3 years between fires.

About being prescribed O2:

First let's say I'm really fat too (BMI 43.8 when I had my sleep study).
My sleep study was a home study (exactly the same info recorded as an in-lab study, except no technician to oversee the data realtime). The results showed that my SpO2 went down to 41% and I spent 97% of my sleep time with an SpO2 less than 90%.
The sleep doctor decided to try me on APAP range 6-18 and told me "I'm not sure it will be enough, but we'll try that first". He also ordered an overnight SpO2 recording to be scheduled a week after starting on APAP. This recording showed that my SpO2 was perfectly normal with just an APAP (average AHI 1.6). The doctor was very pleased at the results and decided to not change a thing
I have since bumped the bottom limit to 10, which seems to be the correct pressure (I have never had a titration), my AHI is around 0.7 and I have lost over 50 lbs (BMI 35.9 and going down ).

Based on my experience and rested gal's friend's experience, I would definitely ask for an overnight SpO2 recording without O2. IMHO it can only have positive effects:
* if your SpO2 doesn't drop below normal values, you will be able to get rid of the cumbersome and heat-generating oxygen concentrator and it will be easier to adjust to your bipap.
* if your SpO2 does drop, then at least you will know how important it is to keep the concentrator and make your treatment work.

As for smoking with an oxygen concentrator around, I suppose everyone is allowed to take their own chances... The problem being here is that it is the others that are going to smoke, but YOU are the one that is at risk of becoming a human torch...

Does it store oxygen or something though? I read no, so like if its been off all day, how is there any risk?

edit: I'm not saying theres not, I'd just like to know

FishOil wrote:Does it store oxygen or something though? I read no, so like if its been off all day, how is there any risk?

I bet the manufacturer has the safety protocol on the web. None of us are familiar with the oxygen concentrator you have, so we're really just guessing. I'm not sure I'd believe your DME either. But the people who made the thing will have a pretty good idea how to avoid killing yourself with it.

FishOil, in one night you can find out if you even need supplemental O2 while using your BiPAP. You might not need the extra O2 at all. Assuming you really will use your BiPAP all night, and every time you sleep.

Ask your doctor to order your DME to give you a recording pulse oximeter test for one night at home while you use the BiPAP without using the O2 concentrator.
Many DMEs will do that free one night for you, if a doctor orders it.

Bluecat wrote:Based on my experience and rested gal's friend's experience, I would definitely ask for an overnight SpO2 recording without O2. IMHO it can only have positive effects:
* if your SpO2 doesn't drop below normal values, you will be able to get rid of the cumbersome and heat-generating oxygen concentrator and it will be easier to adjust to your bipap.
* if your SpO2 does drop, then at least you will know how important it is to keep the concentrator and make your treatment work.