Oxygen refers to one of the most available gases within the atmosphere that makes up approximately 21 percent of the overall air that you breathe. Everyone needs oxygen for survival because it acts as a pivotal element within the procedure known as cellular respiration. Throughout this procedure, glucose from the food that we consume gets in reaction with oxygen for forming ATP. ATP, also referred to as adenosine triphosphate, refers to the preliminary energy career within living beings. 

However, it is not always about receiving oxygen within your lungs. It is more about receiving the right amount of oxygen. The blood oxygen level of everyone remains within 75 to 100 mm. If you are facing a chronic respiratory disease reducing oxygen amount within your bloodstream, you are going to depend on supplementary oxygen. Portable oxygen helps in this case.  

What is a portable oxygen concentrator? 

Portable oxygen concentrators are referred to as one of the most advanced devices delivering oxygen that has been ever created. They are a result of years of research and innovation. One of the primary features of safety is pulse dose oxygen delivery. It refers to a technology that tracks the breathing rate, thereby delivering oxygen while detecting an inhalation.  

Apart from being required for the survival of human life, portable oxygen concentrators are known as a control substance as it comes with numerous risks if you use them incorrectly. If you are using portable oxygen concentrators, here are the do's and don'ts that you need to keep in mind.  

Keep the portable oxygen concentrator dry 

Portable oxygen concentrators referred to electronic devices just like a computer, tablet, or cell phone. It indicates that they are truly susceptible to damage from water. There are various sensitive components within the portable oxygen concentrator. If you put it in water or by any chance if water enters through the vents of the oxygen concentrator, it could lead to permanent damage to the device. There is further a possibility that it can harm your body if you do not remain careful. 

One of the best ways to keep the portable oxygen concentrated dry is using some kind of carrying case. There are lots of options available if you are using popular portable oxygen concentrators. The carry cases are created from genuine leather and they entirely cover the oxygen concentrator, hence hindering it from becoming wet. You need to be careful and you must not allow what to get inside it. Portable oxygen concentrators operate by attracting ambient air and then filtering out unnecessary gases like nitrogen and argon. These devices are why they are vulnerable to water damage.  

Avoid smoking near a portable oxygen concentrator 

Smoking leads to 80% of respiratory diseases. Every physician is going to recommend quitting smoking as quickly as possible as continuing to smoke is going to lower the immune system of the human body. It is one of the primary reasons to quit smoking.  

While you must not be smoking, you need to keep in mind that it is particularly dangerous to smoke near a portable oxygen concentrator. Smoking flames can leave ashes and embers that can start a fire, given the circumstances are wrong. Take time when you speak to anyone else who results in your home and make sure that they do not smoke around the portable oxygen concentrator. Many of them prefer putting no-smoking symbols throughout the house for reminding the visitors not to smoke except going outside.  

Keep the portable oxygen concentrator in a safe place 

One of the biggest safety considerations when buying a portable oxygen concentrator involves the process you keep it. Some of them like having a stationary concentrator for use within their homes and another one for going out. You must have a backup plan for storing one oxygen concentrator if another one fails.  

You need to keep your portable oxygen concentrator within a well-ventilated region. This indicates that you should not keep it within a confined area because it might lead to damage to the entire unit and lead to unnecessary risk of fires.  

Have a strategy for power outages 

Power outages refer to a rare occurrence, and they are also a reality sometimes. Portable oxygen concentrators need electricity to operate, you need to have a power source for charging the batteries. Various oxygen manufacturers recommend contracting the utility organization and requesting the priority service is recommended.  

Some organizations also come with different safety measures to make sure that the customers owning oxygen concentrators depend on electricity that always has direct access. One of the best ways to do this is electricity generators.  

Another primary thing that you need to strategies for power outages implies having an action plan. It will assist you to remain prepared for taking action within an urgent movement when the time is less to think about what to do.  

Wrapping Up 

These are some of the do's and don'ts that you need to keep in mind when using portable oxygen concentrators. As they are one of the safest oxygen devices for supplementary oxygen on the market, taking some inherent precautions before using them is necessary.