Fire officials warn: smoking and medical oxygen don’t mix

Smoking is the leading factor in home fires involving medical oxygen and Russellville Fire Marshal Justin Green is trying to get the word out.

“Many people using medical oxygen have other health issues that may prevent them from escaping the fire, responding to a smoke alarm, or noticing a problem like that,” Green said. “For this reason, there is no substitute for prevention.”

For those who smoke, the safest place to do so is outdoors. Most fires involving medical oxygen occur when it is too cold to go outside to smoke.

Oxygen makes things burn much faster, according to Green. He said, “Think of what happens when you blow into a fire. It makes the flames bigger and that’s what a bottle of oxygen is going to do as well.”

According to Green, the air we normally breathe is about 20 percent oxygen. However, the air delivered to patients using medical oxygen therapy is nearly 100 percent, which makes it extremely flammable.

“Smokers who use home oxygen may understand the need to turn the tank off before lighting up,” Green said. “But they may not realize that the danger persists even when the oxygen isn’t flowing.

“Oxygen can build up not only in the home but also on the hair, clothes, and body of the patient and ignite when a heat source—like a cigarette—comes close to the face.”

There is no safe way to smoke when using home oxygen, according to Green.

“If someone needs to smoke and they use medical oxygen it is important for them to first turn the tank off and then wait 10 minutes before going outside to smoke,” Green said.

Green also suggested putting a “No Smoking” sign in every room where medical oxygen is being used.