Ohio State Fire Marshal urging home oxygen therapy users not to smoke
The Ohio State Fire Marshal is issuing a Consumer Alert, urging those utilizing home oxygen therapy to never smoke or use any kind of open flame.
According to a news release issued by the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal, 51 people in Ohio have died since 2022 in fire-related incidents involving smoking.
A majority of those deaths were the result of someone smoking while on oxygen.
Across the region, residents in the Mahoning Valley may see frigid temperatures, with windchills bringing temperatures to the low single digits or into the negatives.
As a result of the low temperatures, some residents may be staying indoors, possibly when they smoke.
While oxygen itself does not burn, it does cause fires to ignite faster and burn hotter. Even after being turned off, residual oxygen can cause clothing and oxygen tubing to catch fire.
The release states that the best way to keep those utilizing home oxygen safe is by not smoking. Or, if you intend to smoke, make sure to turn off oxygen completely, remove the canula and step outside away from any oxygen equipment.
Additionally, oxygen users should keep all open flames away from oxygen tubing and tanks. Open flames include:
- Gas stoves
- Candles
Another way that home oxygen users can protect themselves is by having a thermal fuse installed on the tubing of oxygen systems. These fuses help stop the flow of oxygen once a fire is detected.
Fuses can be obtained in several ways:
- By asking the oxygen company to provide one
- Visiting a medical supply company to learn where they can be purchased, sometimes for less than $10 per fuse
- Contacting local fire departments to see if they have any thermal fuses
"Smoking while using oxygen is a recipe for disaster," said Fire Prevention Bureau Chief Anita Mentheny.
Metheny continued," During this extreme cold when people are tempted to smoke indoors, we urge everyone to take this warning seriously, especially if you have a loved one at home who utilizes a home oxygen therapy system. This is a good time to also make sure individuals on oxygen have thermal fuses installed on the tubing, so a fire can be stopped in its tracks."
