Portable Oxygen Cylinders

 

Portable oxygen cylinders hold compressed oxygen providing a useful and practical solution for patient´s mobility.

Portable Oxygen Cylinders:

Oxygen cylinders store compressed oxygen (in gas form). For anyone needing a portable cylinder the first question that has to be tackled is how much oxygen to carry and what it weighs.

Air cylinders can be made of aluminum, steel and Ultra-Light Carbon Composite. The weight will vary according to the type of cylinder (and obviously its size). Steel being the heaviest, followed by aluminum and finally composite cylinders.

 

The right sized portable cylinder for any patient will depend on the weight and the amount of compressed oxygen stored for that weight. In other words, how much you can comfortably carry and how long a supply of oxygen you will need.

Obviously an oxygen cylinder weighing 8 pounds will hold more compressed oxygen than one weighing 5 pounds.  On the other hand a portable oxygen cylinder must be comfortable to carry, pull along and be easily moved and this has a lot to do with the weight.

The amount of oxygen that is stored in a cylinder is defined in liters or in cubic feet (1 cubic foot will be equivalent to 27.33 liters of compressed oxygen - multiply the number of cubic feet by 27.33 or divide the liters).

A patient who is looking for a portable oxygen cylinder will have the choice of length of oxygen supply versus weight.  Having said that with the use of flow regulators and the new composites, this is not such a problem. If you take an average time of 5 hours for an outing, there is no need to carry along a supply for 12 hours or more which turns into carrying extra weight (but it is a good idea to have extra oxygen for unforeseen events).

Oxygen Cylinder Safety Issues

Oxygen is not a flammable gas and so will not burn by itself - it is not a fuel.  But it will support combustion, feed it, so to speak.  Therefore it is important to follow some safety measures, including the most obvious one of keeping your oxygen cylinder away from an open flame.

Oxygen cylinders store compressed oxygen and this means it should never be filled at a higher pressure than stipulated by the manufacturer.

Handling and Storage Tips for your Oxygen Cylinder

• Never drag or roll your cylinder. 
• If you need to move a large (stationary cylinder) use a wheeled cart or trolley and make sure you strap it properly. 
• When storing your cylinders set them so that they will not fall over. 
• When not in use keep them in a well ventilated area, away from combustible materials. 
• Always open the valve slowly. 
• When you stop using your cylinder make sure that cylinder valves are closed. 

General Safety Tips

• Keep away from heat sources. 
• Always make sure that the tubing is wrinkle free so the oxygen flows correctly. 
• Be aware of the dangers of oxygen if in doubt, ask. 
• Make sure your cylinders are working properly. 
• Check that ventilation is adequate. 
• Always use oxygen cylinders and equipment carefully and correctly. 
• Do not smoke or allow anyone else to smoke when you are using oxygen. 

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 Oxygen Cylinders (Compressed Oxygen) Articles and Information

• Oxygen Cylinders: How Long Does the Oxygen Last? : Oxygen cylinders store compressed oxygen (in gas form).  They come in different sizes and this means the amount of stored oxygen varies according to the capacity of the cylinder and how full it is.  Here you will find a guide to help you identify how much oxygen you have left.