Oxygen Concentrator Operation and Cleaning Instructions

Your physician has prescribed oxygen for your home use. The following instructions will be explained in detail at time of set-up. These general instructions are for your reference. If after reading them you have questions, or if you are uncomfortable with the equipment, than call us.

Operational Instructions:

Be sure all oxygen administrative equipment is properly connected. (i.e. nasal cannula, mask, etc.)

Turn the liter flow valve to your prescribed liter flow rate. (Concentration will be at a maximum after approximately 30 minutes. The concentrator is designed to run continuously. If use of the concentrator begins after the machine has been turned off, make sure to allow time for the concentrator to warm up.)

The equipment is now ready to use. Turn on/off switch to “on” and begin use.

IF use of the humidifier is prescribed:

a. Fill humidifier bottle to marked line on jar with distilled water. (available at any supermarket)

b. Be sure humidifier bottle is screwed on tightly. (If is loose, it will affect the flow rate of the oxygen. However, be careful to not screw it down so tight that you crack the plastic.)

Cleaning Instructions:

Dust the concentrator cabinet with damp cloth a needed.

Remove external filter weekly, wash in warm soapy water, rinse thoroughly and dry completely. Place the filter back into concentrator and continue use. (Keeping an extra filter handy is a good idea and change out one filter for the other during the cleaning process.)

IF use of a humidifier is prescribed, follow these instructions for cleaning:

a. Unscrew the humidifier jar from the concentrator.

b. Unscrew the humidifier jar from the cap.

c. Empty the water left in the jar.

d. Wash the humidifier jar and cap in hot, soapy water. (mild detergent such as liquid dish soap)

e. Rinse thoroughly in clear warm water.

f. Soak in a solution of 1 part vinegar and 3 parts water for 10 minutes. (Plastic parts may become tacky if left in solution for more that 10 minutes)

g. Rinse thoroughly again.

h. Allow to thoroughly dry in room air.

HUMIDIFIERS SHOULD BE CLEANED DAILY TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF CONTAMINATION AND/OR EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTION.

Other disposable parts, (such as cannulas or masks) should also be cleaned every few days. Follow the above instructions for washing humidifiers, soaking, rinsing, and drying when washing these disposable items.

CLEANING SOLUTION MAY BE RE-USED FOR TWO WEEKS IF KEPT IN A COVERED CONTAINER (TUPPERWARE). DISPOSE OF SOLUTION AFTER TWO WEEKS.

Source and Reference: http://www.aerocareusa.com/products/instructions/concentrator/instructions.html

5 Ways to Live With Your CPAP Machine

Adjusting to CPAP can help people with sleep apnea sleep better. Here's how to do it.

Your doctor has told you that you need to use a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine while you’re sleeping to treat your obstructive sleep apnea. If you’re like most people who receive this news, you’ve got mixed feelings about it.

"Most people are not thrilled," says Meir Kryger, MD, director of sleep medicine research and education at Gaylord Hospital in Wallingford, Conn., and a researcher for Respironics and ResMed, which develop and manufacture sleep apnea devices. "Some are relieved there is a treatment for what they have."

Sleep apnea is marked by brief but repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep. The CPAP typically includes a face or nasal mask that pumps a flow of air into the nasal passages to keep the airway open. But some people abandon the machine before they can get used to it. In a study of 639 people published in 2010, 19% had stopped using the machine after four years and 30% had stopped within 10 years.

But adjusting to CPAP can make your sleep -- and life – better, especially if you have severe sleep apnea. Read on to get sleep specialists’ top five tips on how you can make peace with the device.

Focus on the Health Benefits of CPAP

To help people stay focused on the big picture, Nancy Collop, MD, president-elect of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and professor of medicine at Emory University School of Medicine, explains what is happening in your body.

"Your body is in this constant struggle at night between breathing and sleeping," says Collop, who also directs the university sleep center. "Fortunately, breathing wins, but it wins at the expense of your sleep."

Lack of sleep causes daytime sleepiness, which can make it difficult to function at work and elsewhere. But lost sleep can also have an adverse effect on aging, diabetes, and blood pressure.

The purpose of the CPAP is to take away the struggle between breathing and sleep. And the majority of CPAP users report immediate symptom relief, according to the National Sleep Foundation. They also report increased energy and better mental alertness during the day.

"Very few people like CPAP, but they love the outcome," Kryger tells WebMD. Kryger says that using CPAP improves heart rhythms in some people. (Abnormal heart rhythms can increase the risk of stroke.) CPAP use may also reduce high blood pressure, at least a little.

Many people also feel that using CPAP makes them less of a danger to themselves and others – when driving, for example, or operating machinery. "In terms of safety issues, they are not going to be a hazard due to daytime sleepiness," Kryger says.

What are the Best Sleep Disorder Treatments Available?

We all need to get sleep. But what happens if you find you're experiencing restless nights or worse? What are the best sleep disorder treatments available?

1. Keep to a routine

If you go to bed at 9pm one night, midnight the next then your body will get confused. It will start getting ready to sleep but you'll keep it awake for a few more hours. For more details www.activities-little-fingers.com This isn't good. Night shift workers can experience this kind of sleep disorder because of the nature of their work. But if you have the choice, do your best to make going to sleep a routine thing in much the same way as you set your alarm clock to wake you at the same time the next morning.

2. Stay cool but don't freeze

Keeping a cool temperature in the bedroom is good. Obviously you don't want to be sleeping in a blizzard, so don't take this to extremes. But your bedroom should be cooler than other parts of your house. Adjust the thermostat on your heating or set the heating clock so that your bedroom has time to cool down before you retire for the evening.

3. Don't stress about going to sleep

This is maybe easier said than done. But the more you think about not sleeping, the more likely you are to stay awake. The boredom of counting sheep may not work for you but there are other things you can do to reduce the stress you bring on yourself when you start to worry about not sleeping. Start by yawning. This has a couple of effects: you'll probably feel a little sleepier as we associate yawns with sleep and you'll take a longer, slower breath. Your breathing naturally slows down whilst you sleep. Give it a helping hand by slowing down your inhalations and exhalations. If your stress is generated by work and your everyday life, look into other relaxation techniques such as meditation.

4. Go dark

As long as we've been on this planet, we've associated dark nights with sleep. Make sure your bedroom reflects this. For more details www.tips-getting-healthy.com The reflection of your alarm clock on the ceiling or wall isn't good. Nor are the trickles of light that can come in under doors or through your curtains. Think about adding a blackout lining to your curtains if they regularly let in too much light.

5. Lay off the caffeine

Steer clear of caffeine in the latter part of your day. It's a stimulant and that's the exact opposite of what you want to help you go to sleep. Remember that it's not just coffee and cola that have caffeine in them. So does tea, green tea and most energy drinks. Cut down gradually to avoid withdrawal effects and if you need your caffeine fix, experiment to see how you can gradually reduce this caffeine dependency.

6. Skip the nightcap

Alcohol is disruptive to sleep patterns. Pure and simple. Cut out the nightcap for a few nights and you'll start sleeping better. If you "need" a glass of wine to unwind when you get home, drink it early to give it time to work its way through your system.

7. CPAP and VPAP or BiPAP

The use of this devices help in giving your more air pressures to your body which our body needs to maintain its normal flow of oxygen. CPAP can also help in treatment for the person who keeps a loud snore at night. It is also use to treat sleep apnea which makes you awake at night catching your breathe.


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Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/what-are-the-best-sleep-disorder-treatments-available-769858.html

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The author is based at Chandigarh, India. He writes the growth oriented articles.

WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF OXYGEN TANKS?

Oxygen tanks provide life-sustaining pure oxygen and are used in hospitals, homes and clinics all over the United States. Those who suffer advanced asthma, heart problems or chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder may use oxygen tanks in their portable forms daily. Oxygen tanks harness compressed gas in a metal chamber and possess several dangers to those who use them.

Fire

The most imminent threat posed by oxygen tanks is that of fire. Oxygen is a highly flammable gas that requires only a source of ignition to light. Additionally, oxygen drenched objects, such as those in close proximity to an oxygen source like sheets and pillows, also become highly flammable. This flammability is the reason why smoking is prohibited by any oxygen source, specifically portable tanks. This applies to home oxygen use as. 

Projectiles

Oxygen tanks can become dangerous projectile objects with the right stimulus. Tanks must be stored in an upright, secure setting where there is no risk of tipping or crashing to the ground. According to the National Council on Patient Safety, if gas is forcibly leaking from a canister, this can also propel the oxygen tank with a deadly force. Oxygen tanks are used by applying a regulator, which allows for the release of the gas at a controlled rate. Caution must be applied when changing this regulator, as this is an opportunity for gas to leak at a forceful rate and cause damage.

Empty Tanks

A serious danger of having an oxygen tank is not having oxygen when it is needed. When an oxygen tank does not have a regulator on there is no way to decipher the level of oxygen in the tank. Storms, power outages and delivery failures can all impact the supply and demand of oxygen tanks for those who depend on them. Even oxygen tanks with regulators can be accidentally left on, so that the oxygen slowly leaks out and it unavailable when needed. Care must be taken to ensure a safe, sufficient oxygen supply.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/237734-what-are-the-dangers-of-oxygen-tanks/#ixzz2VTsQ6V9k