* Replace Cannulas and Hoses Often

People are put on oxygen for many different reasons but the most common are for COPD, heart disease, and congestive heart failure.
Don’t depend on your oxygen supply company for general maintenance of your oxygen equipment. Take responsibility for your own health or that of a loved one. Depending on a supply company to keep track of when your oxygen hoses and cannulas need replacing can turn in to a life threatening situation.
Mom might have avoided a whole chain of events that ended up putting her in the hospital if only her oxygen hoses had been replaced.
Oxygen hoses and cannulas can be affected by many different things; dust particles can build up, moisture buildup due to humidity or the oxygen tank humidifier, kinks in the line, small punctures, etc.
Oxygen hoses should be replaced at least every six weeks, more often depending on the weather and environment. Cannulas should be replaced at least once a month. I recommend they be changed every two or three weeks. A cannula goes in your nose. It can be a breeding ground for bacteria. Replace it often. Regularly clean or replace the oxygen tank humidifier cup. It’s also a breeding ground for bacteria that can dislodge directly into your oxygen supply. Be sure to use distilled water so mineral deposits don’t build up and clog hoses and adapters.
It’s the oxygen supply company’s responsibility to provide these items. Don’t let them talk you in to a longer schedule. Also, have the oxygen supply company check the air flow and pressure all the way to the end of the hose. The delivery people usually carry a very small portable test device that effectively tests these functions.
A good way to remember to replace these items is to put a reminder note on your calendar. I added a scheduled event on my computer calendar. Whenever the reminder popped up on my screen I would call Mom to let her know it was time for a replacement. Because this equipment was a trouble area for Mom, I scheduled the hoses to alert me every 4 weeks and the cannulas popped up every 2 weeks. By using the calendar as a reminder tool we no longer had problems with these simple but critical items.
One last bit of advice. When your nose is dry from the constant oxygen flow, be sure to use only the lubricating cream provided by the oxygen supply company. Under no circumstances should you use petroleum based products such as Vaseline or generic petroleum jelly. These products are flammable, a dangerous combination with oxygen. They can also cause a breakdown and deterioration in the plastic material that cannulas are made of.