Oxygen tanks are high-pressure cylinders designed to deliver supplemental oxygen, a medical gas that requires careful handling. Storing oxygen at pressures up to 2,000 pounds per square inch (psi) makes operation a safety-focused procedure. Learning the correct steps for activation and deactivation is necessary because oxygen, while not flammable, powerfully accelerates combustion in other materials. This guide provides clear instructions for operating your oxygen delivery system safely.
Essential Safety Checks Before Use
Before attempting to activate any oxygen system, a thorough safety inspection of the equipment and environment must be performed. The volatile nature of oxygen means that even minor contaminants can become ignition sources under high pressure. A paramount safety rule is keeping the tank and its attached regulator completely free of oils, greases, and petroleum-based products. These hydrocarbon-based substances can react violently with pure, high-pressure oxygen, potentially leading to rapid combustion or explosion. Even small metal particles or debris can accelerate and ignite upon impact within the pressurized oxygen stream.
The physical condition of the tank and regulator assembly must be checked for damage, and the tank should be secured upright in a cart or stand to prevent it from falling. The area surrounding the tank should be clear of all heat sources, open flames, and electrical devices, ideally maintaining a distance of at least five feet. Additionally, the contents gauge on the regulator needs verification to ensure that the cylinder holds an adequate supply, with a full tank typically reading around 2,000 psi.
Step-by-Step Tank Activation and Flow Setting
The process of opening the tank’s main valve must be slow and deliberate to prevent rapid pressurization, which generates heat that could ignite contaminants inside the system. This rapid increase in pressure can cause sufficient heat to trigger a fire. Therefore, the user should stand to the side of the valve, never directly in front of it, when beginning the operation.
Using the cylinder wrench, turn the main valve counter-clockwise, initiating the flow of oxygen into the regulator system. This rotation should be very gradual, allowing the pressure within the regulator to build slowly. Once the main valve is fully open, it is recommended to turn it back about a quarter-turn, a practice known as “backseating,” which prevents the valve from sticking.
After the system is pressurized, the pressure gauge on the regulator will display the tank’s remaining contents, confirming the gas is flowing up to the regulator. Connect the delivery system, such as a nasal cannula or mask tubing, to the regulator’s outlet port. Before setting the flow, users should listen for any unusual hissing sounds, which could indicate a leak at the connection point between the regulator and the tank.
The oxygen flow rate is adjusted by turning the flow control knob on the regulator to the specific setting prescribed by a physician, typically measured in Liters Per Minute (LPM). This adjustment moves a ball bearing or bobbin that floats in a tapered glass tube, indicating the flow rate. To ensure the correct dosage, the flow rate is determined by reading the measurement at the center of the floating ball or the top of the bobbin, aligning the eye level. Once the prescribed LPM is set, confirming that oxygen is flowing through the delivery device completes the activation process.
Safe Deactivation and Storage Procedures
When the oxygen therapy session is complete, the system must be shut down correctly to maintain safety and conserve the remaining gas supply. The first step is to close the main cylinder valve by turning the knob clockwise until it is fully and tightly shut. This action immediately isolates the high-pressure gas within the cylinder itself.
With the main valve closed, oxygen remains trapped under pressure within the regulator and the attached tubing, which must be released, or “bled,” from the system. The user accomplishes this by temporarily turning the flow control knob to a continuous flow setting. This allows the residual oxygen to escape safely through the delivery tubing until the pressure gauge needle drops completely to zero.
Once the pressure gauge reads zero, indicating all residual pressure is drained from the regulator, the flow control knob must be turned back to the “off” or “zero” position. Bleeding the line prevents damage to the regulator and ensures that the system is depressurized, making it safe for the next use or for storage. For storage, the tank must remain secured upright in a well-ventilated area, away from direct heat or confined spaces like closets, to prevent any potential oxygen buildup.