As a reminder, in March 2018, the Veterans Health Administration issued a Patient Safety Alert mandating the use of thermal shut-off devices (also known as firebreaks, fire stop valves or fire safety valves) in all of its home oxygen patients installations. The VHA will be incorporating new requirements into all DME contracts for home oxygen. KEY POINTS OF THE PATIENT SAFETY ALERT The VAs Patient Safety Alert requires that thermal fuses (firebreaks) are fitted to all home oxygen patients installationsunless there is a clinical reason for not doing so. The Patient Safety Alert applies to all patients, not just those deemed to be at high risk. Two thermal shut-off devices must be fitted on each patient installation. In other words, where a patient uses both stationary and portable oxygen, two thermal fuses must be fitted on the stationary oxygen source and two on the portable source. In the case of portable devices, the requirement only applies to those with a continuous flow. Following
PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 13, 2016 NEW EASY-TO-INSTALL OXYSAFE TWO DIRECTIONAL THERMAL FUSE AVAILABLE NOW TO HELP PREVENT OXYGEN FIRES CAUSED BY SMOKING OxySafe now offers a new installation step-saving bi-directional thermal fuse to help prevent oxygen fires caused by patients smoking while receiving oxygen therapy. It provides two directional protection against oxygen fires caused by patients smoking, using candles, stove-top ranges or other open flames while receiving oxygen therapy. Such fires are particularly prevalent in situations where oxygen therapy is provided in the home environment where there is limited patient supervision, though it may occur in environments like healthcare facilities and nursing homes too. OxySafe director of sales Jon Schultz noted that some studies have estimated 39% of COPD patients continue to smoke while on oxygen. He said that OxySafes new bi-directional thermal fuse saves time and effort in set-up. It really is a convenience for
During my career I lost two patients because they both were smoking cigarettes while on oxygen. The first patient actually was in his living room with his wife and visitors. He was a retired plumber and was very familiar with oxygen and its properties. He chose to smoke with his nasal cannula in place, something that he had done many times previously. But luck only lasts so long. The witnesses stated all they could remember was seeing flames coming from his mouth and nose.
The FDA requires 2 leak tests during the fill process, one while the cylinder is filling and another on the cylinder after they have been filled. This test must be done on every cylinder, to ensure that the contents of the cylinder is not leaking out, and that the patient will receive the full contents of the cylinder.
What Is Oxygen Cleaning? Clean equipment that comes into contact with oxygen requires specific procedures to ensure that nothing is left on the surface that could interact with oxygen. There are two types of cleaning that are pertinent for oxygen equipment, cleaning with oxygen compatible cleaners and cleaning equipment for oxygen service. 1. Cleaning with oxygen-compatible cleaners Oxygen can react with any residue, particles, dirt, oil, grease or other contaminants that are left on the surface of equipment the comes into contact with oxygen, such as the cylinder surface. The body of a cylinder or a regulator for example, should be cleaned with chemicals that will leave nothing behind that will cause an interaction with oxygen. 2. Cleaning equipment for oxygen service Surfaces that come into direct contact with oxygen, such as the valve opening on a cylinder, the inside of a cylinder or oxygen connection, must not only be cleaned with an oxygen compatible cleaner, but also with special
Applied is one of the leading medical oxygen regulator suppliers in the home healthcare industry and here are some important questions you should consider before purchasing a medical regulator. Why is it important that I sell quality regulators? A quality regulator delivers the proper prescription of oxygen specified by the healthcare professional, which benefits providers and ultimately patients. Some medical regulator suppliers, like Applied, engineer and do final testing of regulators in the U.S. to ensure regulator quality and dependability. Remember, price is not as important as quality. The price difference between a quality regulator and a poor quality regulator is usually only $1 or $2, but poor quality regulators have hidden costs. Besides not delivering the correct prescribed dosage, poor quality regulators can leak at a patients home and cause additional costs because of pick up and replacement from the patient. Poor quality regulators can even be hazardous from leaks, failure
Applied offers many items that help prevent and protect you from contracting viruses and diseases such as different strains of influenza and Ebola.
In addition to proper education Applied recommends providing patients with a thermal shut off device, such as Applied OxySafe, as part of regular patient set ups in order to protect against further damage from a tubing fire.
Applied 3G Label Remover and Concentrator Cleaner are great for tough dirt and as an everyday cleaner, while oxygen equipment cleaner is used as a mild cleaner for surfaces that come into direct contact with oxygen.
Anyone who touches medical oxygen cylinders needs training. There are two types of training that are generally accepted: 1. In-house training on cGMP and on the job training given by qualified personnel 2. Training by an outside consultant
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