5 Tips For Living Comfortably With Oxygen At Home

If you’ve a health condition that causes a drop in oxygen level, the doctor would’ve probably prescribed you to carry an oxygen therapy at home. It’s a process in which the patient receives additional oxygen supply through a concentrator. However, the concentrator should be compact and lightweight, like the Philips Oxygen Concentrator. 

We say this because the ones used at hospitals are bulky, heavy, and high-tech. Using them at home can make your life stressful and hectic. You will constantly require professional assistance, which can get quite expensive too. 

So, if you want to live comfortably with oxygen at home, make sure you choose an ergonomically-designed model. But that’s not all. You should also remember these tips!

1.  Discuss It With Your Loved Ones

Being prescribed oxygen therapy can change your life forever. You’ll always be in need of an additional oxygen supply to keep you active and mobile. It could mean you would no longer be doing things like before.

So, the first thing you should do is talk about your oxygen therapy with the family. Make them aware of this change and discuss how their help can make this process easier. 

2.  Learn The Maintenance Process

Oxygen concentrators are medical devices that require maintenance from time to time. Avoiding this important task can lead to sudden device failure and issues. Since the patient is dependent on the supply, you should stay on top of the maintenance.

First, find whether the concentrator needs a filter change. If so, how to do it and how often. The person who has installed the device will know all these details.

Also, replace the transparent tubing and cannula at least once a month. Even though they look good, these tubes can harbor serious bacteria and germs.

3.  Keep Extra Supplies In Stock

The mask, tubing, and cannulas are some supplies that you should always have in stock. It’s because they have a plastic structure that can easily become destroyed. You might cut it, step on it, or even run a vacuum cleaner on it. Having extra supplies ensures that your oxygen supply remains intact all the time.

4.  Create A Power Backup Plan

Oxygen concentrators rely on electricity to function, and so they might stop working in case of a power failure. While this scenario is uncommon, it may happen and put you in danger. Thus, it’s best to create a power backup plan. 

You can either go ahead with buying a portable oxygen unit. Or, you can invest in a portable backup battery. There are various options available, and some can be quite expensive. We recommend buying the portable units because they are easy to store, use, and are affordable.

5.  Take Fire Safety Measure

Oxygen is a perfect fuel to the fire. In case there’s a fire, the flames would burn more rapidly and easily than in normal circumstances.

Since an oxygen concentrator leaks some amount into the surroundings, nearby fires can become dangerous. You should make sure that the oxygen setup is away from any source of fire or smoke.