According to the Joint Commission NPSG.15.02.01, EPs 2 and 3 require home care organizations to provide education to the patient and family regarding causes of fire and fire prevention activities.

So the question is, what education are accreditation agencies looking for besides telling the patients not to smoke or be near an open fire when using their oxygen?

Accreditation agencies expect that patient education include the common causes of household fires, how oxygen enhances fires and a comprehensive list of what preventative actions need to be taken by the patient using oxygen. This education can be provided orally, or in writing (such as in a pamphlet), or preferably both.

In addition to proper education Applied recommends providing patients with a thermal shut off device, such as Applied's OxySafe™, as part of regular patient set-ups in order to protect against further damage from a tubing fire.

OxySafe™ is a thermal fuse designed to stop the flow of gas in the event that the downstream cannula or supply tubing is ignited. With OxySafe™, the PVC tube is inclined to extinguish because PVC will not normally burn in air — offering healthcare providers a cost effective solution to lower the risk of serious patient injury in a dangerous oxygen fire.

OxySafe™ should be placed as close to the patient as possible AND as close to the oxygen source as possible. This means that, ideally, you would outfit a patient with 2 OxySafe™. This way you can protect the patient and others by protecting the oxygen source from fire.

Click here to see more on OxySafe™.