Portable o2

[julie]

Someone asked this question in the submissions for questions to be included in the website dictionary/FAQ.

I'm not sure how to answer it, if it is different for every manufacturer or what. Can someone help answer this question for me? Thanks

Where can I find out information about using O2? and How do I know how long my O2 tanks will last?

Thanks!!!

 

[anonymous]

maybe just have a Link to the Portable Oxygen site at <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.portableoxygen.org/">http://www.portableoxygen.org/</a> ?

 

[LisaV]

whoops. that last anon post was me (not signed in....)

 

[luke]

Julie,

as in everything in health care there is a neat little equation....


Take the tank factor(varies depending on the size of the tank) and mulitply it by the lbs in the tank(full is 2200). Divide it by your prescribed liter flow and that is how many minutes it will last.


hope this helps

luke

 

[JazzysMom]

I do know from my brief experience with portable O2 that if you use a regulator it isnt completely accurate. A regulator allows the O2 to only release when you inhale based on how many liters you are on instead of continuous flow (tho it can be set to this also). I find out that if you fall asleep on the train with it & your breathing is not steady or if its shallow that you use it up a lot quicker. Just a bit of extra info

 

[anonymous]

I assume the previous post means a breath actuated regulator versus a continuous flow regulator. They are both regulators. A breath actuated regulator fires bursts of oxygen everytime you breath through your nose. If you breath more frequently, you will use the tank up faster. If you breath through your mouth, you will get no o2. It is also possible to breath 'soft' enough through your nose that the regulator does not fire. If you tend to do either of these then your tank will last much longer, but you may not be getting your required amount of o2. Also, as the link provided in a previous post, different regulator products offer different savings, ie it may say 3 to 1 savings. ie. The tank should last 3 times longer at 2lpm when compared to continuous flow at 2lpm. You also need to be specifically tested for a breath actuated regulator as not everyone can use these effectively in which case they would have to stick to a continuous flow regulator.