Can You Smoke While Using a Portable Oxygen Concentrator?
As the United States’ leading provider of portable oxygen concentrators, our team at Oxygen Always frequently receives questions regarding lifestyle and safety while using a portable concentrator. We always welcome questions, as our goal is to help our patients live healthy, independent lives, unrestricted by breathing issues. Often, we receive questions much like this one: “I’m having a hard time quitting smoking. Can I smoke cigarettes if I use a portable oxygen concentrator?”
Some studies have indicated that 39% of patients with COPD still smoke with oxygen concentrators. Even though nationwide oxygen tank providers know that smoking addiction is difficult to overcome, smokers who continue with their habit while using their portable oxygen concentrators are putting themselves at great risk, not just from a health stand point, but also from a physical standpoint.
The unfortunate truth about smoking near a portable oxygen concentrator is that while doing this, you are putting yourself and others in an extremely dangerous situation.
Why Is Smoking Around Portable Oxygen Concentrators Dangerous?
Portable oxygen concentrators deliver purified, concentrated air to the user because the user’s lungs are incapable of working at their full potential. An open flame near such highly concentrated oxygen has a very high probability of catching fire. If a single spark catches the oxygen and meets a fuel source, such as a carpet, clothing, grass, etc., it will ignite and spread rapidly. In fact, there have been numerous cases of house fires erupting from the combination of open flame and these devices.
What If I Turn Off My Portable Oxygen Concentrator Before Smoking?
Those who believe turning off their concentrator before lighting up should be aware that this does not prevent the dangers from developing. The danger of house fires increases for smokers who use home oxygen concentrators. The air we breathe is composed of 20% oxygen, the air coming from the home and portable oxygen concentrators is almost 100% pure. Patients who use these home devices may not realize that even after they have shut the machine off, a lot of pure oxygen has accumulated in the room, so lighting a cigarette could have potentially fatal consequences. Even if you choose to step away from your oxygen source, oxygen builds up on your hair, clothes, body, and other fuel sources, and can ignite with a cigarette’s heat source if close by.
What’s the Solution?
Of course, it is best to not smoke at all; but if a COPD patient continues smoking with oxygen concentrators, they must be educated on the potential risks involved in using pure oxygen around flames. The market for these types of devices is booming and more people are turning to them for help, which means that the chance of house fires and explosions are increasing.
The essential point is this: there is no safe way to continue regular smoking while using a portable oxygen concentrator. The best way to protect yourself, your family, your home, your pets, and your neighbors is to quit smoking completely.
At Oxygen Always, our portable oxygen concentrators help patients lead richer lives with increased independence. Our expert team recommends taking all necessary steps to quit smoking to provide yourself with the healthy air that your lungs deserve, while avoiding the dangers of smoking near a concentrator.
Oxygen Always is an online provider of traditional home and portable oxygen concentrators. Our company is a leader in this market, and is staffed by professionals who know that it is important to stay up-to-date on all the risks associated with owning an oxygen concentrator. For more information and industry news, check out our blog.
Recent Comments