Tips on Where to Store Your Oxygen Cylinders

If you have a respiratory condition that interferes with your daily activities, your health care provider may recommend you start using oxygen. Higher blood oxygen levels help ensure every tissue and cell in your body gets the oxygen it needs to function properly.

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You may end up keeping oxygen cylinders at your home where proper storage is important for safety purposes. Oxygen is a volatile substance, and when exposed to heat and a flammable material, your cylinders could start a fire. The following tips for storing oxygen cylinders help ensure you keep your home and family safe.

• Keep your oxygen cylinders in a cool place. A variety of sources can generate enough heat to create a fire hazard, so keep your cylinders away from the oven, fireplace, space heater and radiator. Also keep them out of direct sunlight.
• Keep oxygen cylinders out of rooms where people use heat-generating electrical appliances, such as hair dryers, heating pads or electric razors.
• Don’t store oxygen cylinders where oil, grease or other flammable liquids could spill near the cylinders. This creates a fire hazard.
• Make sure no one smokes or lights any open flame near your oxygen cylinder storage area. The heat and flame mixed with pure oxygen could start a fire.
• Avoid storing oxygen cylinders in enclosed areas, such as a small closet. Ventilated areas with good airflow are less prone to facilitating a fire if oxygen leaks from a cylinder.
• Store cylinders in a secure, upright position. These heavy tanks can be difficult to lift if you lay them down, and they could hurt you or damage your property if they fall over.

These oxygen cylinder storage tips should help you avoid any mishaps such as a fire or being struck by an unsecure tank. If you have any other concerns, please discuss them with the health care provider who recommended you start using oxygen.

Then, for other resources about using and storing oxygen cylinders safely, please contact MAR-J Medical Supply. We have a location based in Boca Raton, but we ship all around the United States if you don’t live nearby.