

When oxygen therapy is essential for your everyday health, then it is important to prepare when emergencies arise. Know what to do and how to maintain your oxygen concentrator best under difficult circumstances so you never have to go without oxygen therapy when you may need it most.
Understanding Your Oxygen Concentrator
- Basic Function and Components: An oxygen concentrator generates pure oxygen from ambient air, which serves as a more convenient option for oxygen therapy patients versus oxygen tanks. Oxygen concentrators include airflow settings that can be continuous flow or pulse flow depending on the machine model to meet the oxygen therapy needs of the patient.
- Regular Maintenance: Oxygen concentrators are generally easy to maintain. Filters need to be changed and cleaned. Oxygen tubing and nasal cannulas need to be inspected for damage and cleaned thoroughly on a regular basis to prevent infection. Ideally, you should have your oxygen concentrator professionally inspected annually to ensure it is performing at its best.
A Few Emergency Tips for Using Oxygen Concentrator
Prepare for Extreme Weather
Storms and other extreme weather conditions can impact oxygen therapy. If you depend on your oxygen concentrator here are some tips for managing unpredictable weather events.
Cold Fronts: Extreme cold can affect your portable oxygen concentrator. Most units are not designed to function below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Limit your time outdoors with your POC during cold fronts. can affect your portable oxygen concentrator. Most units are not designed to function below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Limit your time outdoors with your POC during cold fronts.
Hurricanes: Hurricanes can knock out power for extended periods of time. Be sure to have battery backup for your portable oxygen concentrator in case you lose power.
Heat Waves: Like cold, heat can negatively impact your portable oxygen concentrator. Limit your time outside with your POC when temperatures exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, when temperatures are warm, never leave your POC in a trunk where it can get hotter than outside temperatures. It can damage your portable oxygen concentrator.
Tornadoes: Like hurricanes, tornados can unexpectedly down power lines and limit accessibility to oxygen therapy. Stay safe during tornado warnings and keep your battery backup handy for your portable oxygen concentrator.
Dust Storms: In some regions of the country dust storms are a common weather event. Dust particles can get inside your oxygen concentrator and affect componentry and clog filters. What makes matters worse is that dust can aggravate respiratory conditions, making your oxygen concentrator essential. Keep your home oxygen concentrator and portable concentrator indoors during a dust storm. Check filters and keep your equipment clean to ensure performance. Learn more about dust storm preparedness for COPD patients.
Protect Oxygen Concentrator in Severe Weather
Keep your oxygen concentrator safe when severe weather is looming. Your oxygen therapy depends on it. Learn more about weather action for your oxygen concentrator.
Consider Carrying Extra Batteries
If you use a portable oxygen concentrator and are traveling far from home, extra batteries come in handy for maintaining your power supply. Internal batteries for portable oxygen concentrators are designed to last a long time.
But under difficult circumstances such as a weather delay at the airport or heavy traffic during a road trip your main power source may drain fast. Be prepared with external batteries so you can continue your oxygen therapy worry-free.
Know Your Oxygen Concentrator Batteries
The best way to be prepared when traveling with your portable oxygen concentrator is to know the most you can about your power source. You know from experience how long your internal battery will last with your POC and if you feel you might run into a difficult situation, also know how many external batteries you may need to continue the power supply. Compare your power needs to how much oxygen supply you may need for your respiratory condition.
Consult Your Doctor
Also, speak to your doctor about traveling with your respiratory condition and your portable oxygen concentrator. Let your doctor know when you may be traveling, especially if traveling abroad so that your doctor is aware if an emergency arises that he or she can be contacted. Ask your doctor about your respiratory condition and how well you will fare under emergency conditions if you were not to have an adequate oxygen supply. This will help you better understand how well you can manage your condition without your POC.
Keep The Battery At Proper Temperature
Your portable oxygen concentrators are susceptible to environmental conditions. If you are traveling to a location that is exceptionally hot or cold, know that these temperatures may affect the performance of your batteries.
Be sure to consult your owner’s manual about the ideal storage temperatures for your portable oxygen concentrator batteries so that they do not become damaged while traveling. Storing your batteries at the best temperature will ensure they remain operative when you need them most.
Be Prepared while Traveling. Know Where You are Going
Planning a trip can be exciting and taking your portable oxygen concentrator should not interfere with your fun. Take time to prepare for travel. Know your travel plans and be sure to let others know about your trip.
Consider taking additional supplies for your portable oxygen concentrator including nasal cannulas and hoses if needed. Take your owner’s manual in case you need to troubleshoot while away from home. Preparedness for travel will give you peace of mind, even when unexpected circumstances arise.
Keep An Emergency Contact
If you plan on traveling alone, be sure to let others know about your trip and see if they will act as emergency contacts. They can be your source of help if emergencies arise while on your trip. Also, contact your doctor and include that information as well on your emergency contact list for help with personal medical information. If you have to speak to other doctors or doctors in an emergency room, your personal doctor’s input can be helpful.
Plan Accordingly
Managing a respiratory illness while traveling means taking extra steps in planning. For example, if you are traveling abroad, make sure that electrical input devices will work with outlets in your destination country. You may need some additional accessories to recharge batteries or operate your portable oxygen concentrator.
If you are going on a road trip, check to see if you can charge your portable oxygen concentrator in car power sources. This will allow you to recharge without having to make a pit stop.
Address Tubing or Cannula Issues
Check your tubing for kinks or leaks that may be reducing the effectiveness of oxygen flow. Replace tubing and cannula frequently to ensure consistent oxygen. Also have spare cannulas and tubing available in case of accidental damage.
Troubleshoot Common Issues
Understanding common problems with your oxygen concentrator can help you address those issues quickly and easily without the help of a technician.
If you have no power check the connection ports to see that plugs are secure. Try an alternative power source to make sure your existing outlet is not the problem.
If your oxygen output is low, check your filters to make sure they are not clogged. Double check the settings on your oxygen concentrator.
Alarms are designed to indicate different problems with your oxygen concentrator. Use your owner’s manual to identify the different alerts so you can easily address those issues.
Refrain From Smoking Near a Portable Oxygen Concentrator
Smoking around your oxygen concentrator can be dangerous. Pure oxygen is highly flammable and can lead to flare ups and a burn risk. Avoid smoking in the same room as your concentrator as an extra precaution.
If you must smoke, turn off your concentrator to ensure no pure oxygen flow is near your lit cigarette. Wait at least 10 minutes after turning off the device before smoking.
Avoid Using Aerosol Products
Aerosol products such as hair spray or air fresheners can pose a fire hazard when used around an oxygen concentrator. These types of sprays can flare up around pure oxygen. Maintain an aerosol-free zone around your oxygen concentrator to avoid accidents.
Properly Store Your Portable Oxygen Concentrator When Traveling
Properly Store Your Portable Oxygen Concentrator When Traveling
Key Takeaways
Weather events can impact your oxygen therapy. Be prepared so that you are not left without your essential equipment. Preparedness is also key to traveling with your oxygen concentrator.
Traveling with a respiratory illness shouldn’t be a barrier, especially with the convenience of portable oxygen concentrators that are available. Understand your equipment well so you are not surprised by any technical issues. Be organized in your trip planning. Make a checklist of accessories you need including batteries and a list of emergency contacts. Take some time to plan your trip and prepare for possible unexpected outcomes to ensure that your journey is safe and peaceful.