If the patient is struggling to breathe, has blue lips, or is confused or drowsy, call 108 immediately. This guide is general information, not medical advice. Always follow your doctor's instructions.
When a doctor advises oxygen at home, after a hospital stay, for a lung or heart condition, or for an elderly parent, families suddenly have many questions. Where do we get a cylinder? How do we set it up? How long will it last? Is it safe with a gas stove in the house? This guide answers the common questions we hear from families in Kurnool.
Start with your doctor's advice
Oxygen is a medicine. Before you arrange a cylinder, make sure you know:
- The flow rate, in litres per minute (L/min)
- How many hours a day it's needed: continuous, only at night, or only when breathless
- Whether to use a nasal cannula (the thin tube under the nose) or a mask
For patients who need oxygen for many hours a day over months, doctors sometimes suggest an oxygen concentrator instead of, or along with, cylinders. Ask your doctor what suits your situation. Cylinders are simple, need no electricity and make a good backup during power cuts.
Getting a medical oxygen cylinder
Most families take a cylinder on deposit or rent rather than buying one. You pay a deposit for the cylinder and pay for the oxygen at each refill. At Parameswara Traders we deliver medical oxygen cylinders to homes in Kurnool and nearby towns, and we explain how to use the kit when we deliver.
Make sure the cylinder is a medical oxygen cylinder. In India these are black with a white top (shoulder). A plain black cylinder is industrial oxygen, meant for welding, and must not be used for patients.
What you need
- Medical oxygen cylinder
- Oxygen kit fitted to the cylinder (such as an FA valve kit) with a flowmeter to set the L/min, and usually a humidifier bottle
- Nasal cannula or mask, usually bought from a medical shop
- A stand or a way to keep the cylinder upright and secure
Setting it up, step by step
- Stand the cylinder upright in a ventilated room, secured so it cannot fall, away from the kitchen and any flame.
- Fit the oxygen kit to the cylinder valve. We'll do this for you at delivery the first time.
- If your kit has a humidifier bottle, fill it to the marked level with distilled water, or boiled and cooled water. Change the water daily.
- Open the cylinder valve slowly, anticlockwise.
- Turn the flowmeter to the rate your doctor prescribed. Don't increase it on your own.
- Connect the cannula or mask and check that oxygen is flowing (you'll feel a gentle flow at the prongs).
- When oxygen isn't needed, close the cylinder valve first, then turn the flowmeter to zero.
How long will a cylinder last?
Divide the oxygen in the cylinder (litres) by the flow rate (L/min) to get minutes. The table gives rough figures for the two common sizes. Actual contents depend on the cylinder and how full it is, so treat these as estimates.
| Cylinder (approx. oxygen content) | At 1 L/min | At 2 L/min | At 5 L/min |
|---|---|---|---|
| B-type cylinder (10 L water capacity), about 1,500 litres | about 25 hours | about 12 hours | about 5 hours |
| Jumbo cylinder (46.7 L water capacity), about 7,000 litres | about 4½ days | about 2½ days | about 23 hours |
Watch the pressure gauge. When the needle is getting low, order a refill, and keep a spare cylinder if the patient needs oxygen continuously. Our shop is open daily from 9:30 am (Sunday till 1:30 pm), so plan ahead for nights and Sundays.
Safety rules for oxygen at home
- No smoking and no open flames in the room: no diyas, agarbattis, mosquito coils, candles or gas stoves near the cylinder. Keep at least 2 metres away.
- Oxygen makes things burn much faster. Don't use oil-based creams, petroleum jelly or hair oil on the face or nose while on oxygen. Use water-based products.
- Keep the cylinder upright, secured and out of direct sun. Never lay it down while in use.
- Don't cover the cylinder or tubing with bedsheets or blankets, where oxygen can collect.
- Keep children away from the valve and flowmeter.
- If you smell burning or see sparks, close the cylinder valve and move the patient away.
When to call the doctor or 108
Call your doctor if breathlessness is getting worse, the patient needs a higher flow than prescribed to feel comfortable, or they have headaches or unusual drowsiness. Call 108 immediately if breathing is very difficult, the lips or fingertips turn blue, or the patient becomes confused or can't be woken easily.
Common questions
Can we get a medical oxygen cylinder delivered to our home in Kurnool?
Yes. Parameswara Traders delivers medical oxygen cylinders to homes in Kurnool and nearby towns, with the cylinder on deposit or rent. Call 094400 79857.
What water should go in the humidifier bottle?
Distilled water, or boiled and cooled water, filled to the marked level and changed daily. Don't overfill.
Can I increase the flow if the patient feels breathless?
Don't change the flow without your doctor's advice. Too much oxygen can be harmful for some patients. If breathlessness is severe, call 108.
For hospitals, nursing homes and clinics, see our medical gas supply page. For home oxygen, see medical oxygen cylinders in Kurnool.