Fires Involving Home Medical Oxygen Units On The Rise
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Oxygen units in the home have become more commonplace. And now, a danger associated with the treatment is growing.
Portable oxygen units and cigarettes just don't mix well. Dr. Linwood Haith, Medical Director of the Crozer Burn Center, says patients don't mean to smoke while on oxygen, but sometimes people forget the units are attached.
"Unfortunately, many times there may not be adequate caregivers at home because everybody is out working when the person with the oxygen is at home," Haith says, "so sometimes we see elderly people without good supervision, then they'll just light a cigarette."
Dr. Haith's burn unit treats at least two patients a month suffering burns of the face caused by portable oxygen unit fires.
"Usually it's the central part of the face, the nose and mouth and the eyebrows," Haith says. "Occasionally the patient may end up on a breathing machine because the amount of heat may affect the upper airways, the larynx and may cause an obstruction of the larynx."
Certain aerosol cans, sprays and cleaning products are also flammable and should be avoided near the oxygen tanks.