Proper use and maintenance of your home oxygen equipment are essential for the efficiency of your equipment and your safety. When first getting started with home oxygen equipment, you may not know how to use it properly and what maintenance is required. We have compiled a few helpful tips for using and maintaining your home oxygen equipment. Continue reading to find out more!
Tips For Using Your Home Oxygen Equipment
- To start using your home oxygen equipment, simply attach the nasal cannula or face mask to your machine with the tubing. Ensure that the tubing is not tangled or kinked.
- Be sure to connect your humidifier if you will be using one to help with dryness.
- Set the flow rate to the rate that has been prescribed to you. Generally, a prescription will be written for you in the number of liters per minute, this is your flow rate and what you should always set it to. It is important to never change your flow rate without consulting your physician first.
- Once your home oxygen equipment is set up you are ready to use it! Simply breathe through the nasal cannula or face mask to start receiving oxygen.
Maintaining Your Home Oxygen Equipment
Cleaning your home oxygen equipment regularly is helpful in maintaining your equipment and will ensure that your equipment will last a long time, here are a few helpful cleaning tips:
- Weekly: Wash your nasal cannula or face mask with mild dish soap and warm water. It is important to avoid getting water into the tubing.
- Every Three Days: Wash your humidifier bottle with mild dish soap and warm water.
- Once a Month: Remove the filter and clean with mild dish soap and water, rinse under water to remove any dust and debris.
- After Cleaning: When cleaning any part of your home oxygen equipment, let air-dry completely before use.
Choose a well-ventilated area to place your oxygen concentrator in when using it. Avoid placing your concentrator in small rooms like closets or bathrooms. This will allow your unit to take in adequate amounts of air and will ensure that it is working efficiently.
If the machine has been in continuous use for seven to eight hours, give it a rest period of about 20-30 minutes. This will allow the machine to cool down and work efficiently, as they are not designed to run 24/7.
Home oxygen therapy can help you have more energy, sleep better, and be more active! It is essential that you take care of and use your home oxygen equipment properly to ensure that you are receiving quality supplemental oxygen. If you are interested in learning more about our home oxygen equipment at the Advanced Respiratory Care Network, please visit our website or contact us for more information!