Medical Oxygen and Oxygen
Therapy Procedures
What is medical oxygen?
Medical oxygen is a highly purified form of oxygen used for medical purposes to
support breathing and treat conditions such as hypoxemia and respiratory
distress.
How is medical oxygen different from industrial oxygen?
Medical oxygen is produced under strict quality controls to ensure it is free of
contaminants, while industrial oxygen may contain impurities and is not
intended for human use.
Why is medical oxygen important in healthcare?
Medical oxygen is vital for supporting life in emergencies, surgeries, intensive
care, and for treating respiratory illnesses like COPD, asthma, or COVID-19.
What is the standard concentration of medical oxygen?
Medical oxygen is typically 99.5% pure or higher, meeting specific
pharmacopeia standards.
How is medical oxygen stored?
Medical oxygen is stored in compressed gas cylinders, cryogenic liquid
containers, or concentrators under controlled conditions.
What is a medical oxygen concentrator?
A medical oxygen concentrator is a device that extracts oxygen from ambient air
and delivers it to patients at a higher concentration.
When is supplemental medical oxygen needed?
Supplemental medical oxygen is needed when blood oxygen levels fall below
normal, causing symptoms like shortness of breath or fatigue.
What are the risks of using too much medical oxygen?
Excessive medical oxygen can lead to oxygen toxicity, which may damage the
lungs or central nervous system.
How is medical oxygen administered to patients?
Medical oxygen is administered using nasal cannulas, face masks, or
mechanical ventilators, depending on the patient's needs.
,What precautions should be taken when using medical oxygen at home?
Precautions include keeping the oxygen away from open flames, smoking, and
flammable materials, and ensuring proper storage and handling.
What are some common conditions treated with medical oxygen?
Common conditions include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),
pneumonia, asthma, heart failure, and COVID-19.
How can medical oxygen delivery be monitored?
Delivery is monitored using devices like pulse oximeters to ensure adequate
oxygen saturation levels.
What is the role of medical oxygen in emergency medicine?
In emergencies, medical oxygen is used to stabilize patients with respiratory
distress, cardiac arrest, or severe trauma.
How does medical oxygen support surgical procedures?
Medical oxygen ensures adequate oxygenation during anesthesia and post-
operative recovery.
What safety standards are in place for medical oxygen production?
Safety standards, such as those set by the FDA and other regulatory agencies,
mandate purity, labeling, and safe handling of medical oxygen.
What are cryogenic oxygen tanks?
Cryogenic oxygen tanks store medical oxygen in liquid form at very low
temperatures for high-volume needs.
How is medical oxygen transported?
Medical oxygen is transported in cylinders, cryogenic tanks, or pipelines to
healthcare facilities.
What are some alternatives to compressed oxygen cylinders?
Alternatives include oxygen concentrators and liquid oxygen systems for
portability and convenience.
Why should medical oxygen cylinders be inspected regularly?
Regular inspection ensures cylinders are free from leaks, damage, and
contamination.
The overall goal of this training is to help you gain the knowledge, skills, and
confidence necessary to:
Give medical oxygen for oxygen deficiency and resuscitation.
Which of the following parts of a medical oxygen delivery system controls the
flow of oxygen from the oxygen storage system when the valve is turned on?
, Regulator
In the United States, the color code for oxygen cylinders is:
Green
Before beginning assembly of a portable medical oxygen delivery system:
Check that the cylinder is free of rust, corrosion, foreign substances, or
residues.
After using a portable medical oxygen delivery system:
Prepare it for future use, store it, and regularly inspect your oxygen delivery
system to ensure the pressure gauge is at or above 200 psi.
The primary tool used to assess for oxygen deficiency in an emergency is:
The primary tool used to assess for oxygen deficiency in an emergency is
observation of signs and symptoms
For an unresponsive person who is not breathing normally or only gasping, an
appropriate oxygen delivery device is:
A CPR mask with oxygen inlet
What is required prior to giving medical oxygen?
When available, medical oxygen may be given after performing an initial
assessment and providing appropriate care for life-threatening conditions. With
multiple properly trained providers, medical oxygen may be given
simultaneously with other emergency actions
You are giving medical oxygen with a simple mask to a responsive person with a
difficulty breathing. The flow rate is set to 6 LPM. After 5 minutes, the person's
SpO2 is 92%. You should:
You should increase the flow rate in 1- or 2-liter increments until the SpO2
reaches 95%.
You are giving medical oxygen with a non-rebreather mask to a responsive
person who is clearly anxious, breathing very fast, coughing, and wheezing. The
flow rate is set at 12 LPM. The reservoir bag is completely deflating with each
breath the person takes. You should:
You should increase the flow rate until the reservoir bag slightly inflates and
deflates with each breath.
You are giving medical oxygen with a non-rebreather mask to an unresponsive,
breathing person who has been placed in the recovery position. The flow rate is
set at 15 LPM. You notice fluids draining from the person's mouth and beginning
to collect in the mask. You should:
Quickly remove the mask, keep the person in the recovery position, and allow
the fluids to drain.
You are performing compression-only CPR on an approximately 60-year-old
person in the fitness center who collapsed suddenly, right in front of you. EMS is
on the way with a 7-minute response time. No AED is available. You have sent an
untrained coworker to get the nearby emergency response kit and medical
oxygen delivery system. The coworker arrives and sets the emergency oxygen
system down next you. The proper delivery device and flow rate in this
emergency is:
The proper delivery device and flow rate in this emergency is CPR mask with
oxygen inlet, highest available flow rate.
Therapy Procedures
What is medical oxygen?
Medical oxygen is a highly purified form of oxygen used for medical purposes to
support breathing and treat conditions such as hypoxemia and respiratory
distress.
How is medical oxygen different from industrial oxygen?
Medical oxygen is produced under strict quality controls to ensure it is free of
contaminants, while industrial oxygen may contain impurities and is not
intended for human use.
Why is medical oxygen important in healthcare?
Medical oxygen is vital for supporting life in emergencies, surgeries, intensive
care, and for treating respiratory illnesses like COPD, asthma, or COVID-19.
What is the standard concentration of medical oxygen?
Medical oxygen is typically 99.5% pure or higher, meeting specific
pharmacopeia standards.
How is medical oxygen stored?
Medical oxygen is stored in compressed gas cylinders, cryogenic liquid
containers, or concentrators under controlled conditions.
What is a medical oxygen concentrator?
A medical oxygen concentrator is a device that extracts oxygen from ambient air
and delivers it to patients at a higher concentration.
When is supplemental medical oxygen needed?
Supplemental medical oxygen is needed when blood oxygen levels fall below
normal, causing symptoms like shortness of breath or fatigue.
What are the risks of using too much medical oxygen?
Excessive medical oxygen can lead to oxygen toxicity, which may damage the
lungs or central nervous system.
How is medical oxygen administered to patients?
Medical oxygen is administered using nasal cannulas, face masks, or
mechanical ventilators, depending on the patient's needs.
,What precautions should be taken when using medical oxygen at home?
Precautions include keeping the oxygen away from open flames, smoking, and
flammable materials, and ensuring proper storage and handling.
What are some common conditions treated with medical oxygen?
Common conditions include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),
pneumonia, asthma, heart failure, and COVID-19.
How can medical oxygen delivery be monitored?
Delivery is monitored using devices like pulse oximeters to ensure adequate
oxygen saturation levels.
What is the role of medical oxygen in emergency medicine?
In emergencies, medical oxygen is used to stabilize patients with respiratory
distress, cardiac arrest, or severe trauma.
How does medical oxygen support surgical procedures?
Medical oxygen ensures adequate oxygenation during anesthesia and post-
operative recovery.
What safety standards are in place for medical oxygen production?
Safety standards, such as those set by the FDA and other regulatory agencies,
mandate purity, labeling, and safe handling of medical oxygen.
What are cryogenic oxygen tanks?
Cryogenic oxygen tanks store medical oxygen in liquid form at very low
temperatures for high-volume needs.
How is medical oxygen transported?
Medical oxygen is transported in cylinders, cryogenic tanks, or pipelines to
healthcare facilities.
What are some alternatives to compressed oxygen cylinders?
Alternatives include oxygen concentrators and liquid oxygen systems for
portability and convenience.
Why should medical oxygen cylinders be inspected regularly?
Regular inspection ensures cylinders are free from leaks, damage, and
contamination.
The overall goal of this training is to help you gain the knowledge, skills, and
confidence necessary to:
Give medical oxygen for oxygen deficiency and resuscitation.
Which of the following parts of a medical oxygen delivery system controls the
flow of oxygen from the oxygen storage system when the valve is turned on?
, Regulator
In the United States, the color code for oxygen cylinders is:
Green
Before beginning assembly of a portable medical oxygen delivery system:
Check that the cylinder is free of rust, corrosion, foreign substances, or
residues.
After using a portable medical oxygen delivery system:
Prepare it for future use, store it, and regularly inspect your oxygen delivery
system to ensure the pressure gauge is at or above 200 psi.
The primary tool used to assess for oxygen deficiency in an emergency is:
The primary tool used to assess for oxygen deficiency in an emergency is
observation of signs and symptoms
For an unresponsive person who is not breathing normally or only gasping, an
appropriate oxygen delivery device is:
A CPR mask with oxygen inlet
What is required prior to giving medical oxygen?
When available, medical oxygen may be given after performing an initial
assessment and providing appropriate care for life-threatening conditions. With
multiple properly trained providers, medical oxygen may be given
simultaneously with other emergency actions
You are giving medical oxygen with a simple mask to a responsive person with a
difficulty breathing. The flow rate is set to 6 LPM. After 5 minutes, the person's
SpO2 is 92%. You should:
You should increase the flow rate in 1- or 2-liter increments until the SpO2
reaches 95%.
You are giving medical oxygen with a non-rebreather mask to a responsive
person who is clearly anxious, breathing very fast, coughing, and wheezing. The
flow rate is set at 12 LPM. The reservoir bag is completely deflating with each
breath the person takes. You should:
You should increase the flow rate until the reservoir bag slightly inflates and
deflates with each breath.
You are giving medical oxygen with a non-rebreather mask to an unresponsive,
breathing person who has been placed in the recovery position. The flow rate is
set at 15 LPM. You notice fluids draining from the person's mouth and beginning
to collect in the mask. You should:
Quickly remove the mask, keep the person in the recovery position, and allow
the fluids to drain.
You are performing compression-only CPR on an approximately 60-year-old
person in the fitness center who collapsed suddenly, right in front of you. EMS is
on the way with a 7-minute response time. No AED is available. You have sent an
untrained coworker to get the nearby emergency response kit and medical
oxygen delivery system. The coworker arrives and sets the emergency oxygen
system down next you. The proper delivery device and flow rate in this
emergency is:
The proper delivery device and flow rate in this emergency is CPR mask with
oxygen inlet, highest available flow rate.
