Medical oxygen at home and the fire risk

Oxygen makes things burn much faster, the way blowing on a fire makes the flame bigger. Medical oxygen can explode if a flame or spark is nearby, and it can still catch fire when it's turned off. Oxygen at home is stored under pressure in tanks or made by a machine called a concentrator.

Smoking

• Never let anyone smoke in a room where oxygen is usedThat includes visitors and family members.
• Put a "No smoking" sign in every room where oxygen is used
• Keep 6 feet from any flame when outIn a restaurant, sit at least 6 feet from a stove, fireplace or tabletop candle.

Keep it 6 feet away from

• Open flamesThat means wood stoves, fireplaces and candles.
• HeatersThat includes electric baseboard heaters and space heaters.
• Electric appliances that can sparkThese include electric blankets, hair dryers, electric razors and electric toothbrushes, and toys with electric motors.

In the kitchen

• Keep the oxygen away from the stovetop and oven
• Watch for splattering greaseIt can catch fire.
• Keep children who use oxygen away from the stove and oven
• A microwave is usually fine to cook with

Around the house

• Have working smoke alarms and a fire extinguisherIf the oxygen moves around the house, more than one extinguisher in different places may be needed.
• Store oxygen where air can move around itDon't keep it in a car trunk, a box or a small closet. Under the bed is fine if air can move freely there.
• Keep flammable liquids away from itThat includes cleaning products with oil, grease or alcohol in them.
• Skip petroleum jelly on the face and upper bodyAloe vera and water-based products are safe for dry lips and nose. Ask the health care provider before using any petroleum-based cream.
• Keep the tubing out of the wayTaping it to the back of a shirt helps prevent tripping, and children should be taught not to get tangled in it.

Telling people

• Tell the local fire department, power company and phone companyThe power company will try to restore power sooner to a home that uses oxygen. Keep their numbers where they're easy to find.
• Tell family, neighbors and friendsThey can help in an emergency.
• Keep a backup tank if you use a concentratorA concentrator needs electricity, so a tank of oxygen covers a power outage.