Information – Medical Oxygen & Nitronox
Useful Information
Click on the links below where you'll find lots of useful information about our medical gases service, medical oxygen cylinders, and Nitronox analgesic gas cylinders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some handy answers to frequently asked questions.
Q. Does my medical oxygen cylinder need to be serviced?
A. No, our medical oxygen cylinders are the latest design and maintenance free.
Q. How long is the expiry date on my medical oxygen cylinder?
A. Our medical oxygen has a 5 years expiry date.
Q. What do I need to do when my medical oxygen cylinder is going to expire?
A. We monitor the expiry dates of our medical oxygen cylinders and will contact you to arrange delivery of a replacement before your cylinder expires.
Q. How do I get a replacement if I use my medical oxygen cylinder?
A. Contact us and we'll arrange next working day delivery of a replacement medical oxygen cylinder.
Q. What is the difference between medical oxygen and regular oxygen?
A. In the UK, medical oxygen manufacturers and distributors are licensed by the MHRA.
The manufacturing process of medical grade oxygen is closely monitored, controlled, and documented to ensure the quality and purity of the medicine meets quality standards for pharmacopeia.
All cylinders which are filled with medical grade oxygen must display a batch label including expiry date, and product label which lists details of the medicine and the manufacturer, including licence details and contact details.
Q. What oxygen flow rate setting should I use for each type of face mask or nasal cannula?
A. According to The British Thoracic Society guideline 'BTS Guideline for Oxygen Use in Adults in Healthcare and Emergency Settings':
- Nasal cannula = <6 LPM
- Simple face mask (medium concentration mask) = >5 LPM
- Reservoir mask (non-rebreathing mask / high concentration mask) = 15 LPM
Q. Where can I find out more about using medical oxygen in emergencies?
A. The British Thoracic Society is an extensive source of information, standards, and guidelines related to the use and administration of medicinal oxygen including the use of oxygen masks, nasal cannula, and oxygen flow rate settings.
The British Thoracic Society Emergency Oxygen Guideline Development Group has published a comprehensive document 'BTS Guideline for Oxygen Use in Adults in Healthcare and Emergency Settings'.
A. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is also a good source of information related to the use and administration of medicinal oxygen.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has treatment summary information relating to medicinal oxygen listed under the British National Formulary (BNF).
The British National Formulary (BNF) lists key information on the selection, prescribing, dispensing and administration of medicines.
Q. What are the main safety requirements for handling medical oxygen cylinders?
A. Fire is the most likely risk when handling, storing, and using medical oxygen cylinders because although oxygen is not flammable, it does strongly support combustion.
There is a unique safety hazard in relation to compressed oxygen cylinders coming into contact with contaminants and hydrocarbons, such as fuel, oil and grease, because oxygen can react with these substances resulting in ignition and fire.
You must be particularly careful not to introduce contaminants through products such as hand cream, moisturiser, or from food residue on your hands.
Do not use open flames, smoke, or use any other form of heat source in the vicinity of medical oxygen cylinders.
Q. How should I store medical oxygen cylinders?
A. Always follow the guidelines on the oxygen cylinder's product label.
- Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
- Keep away from contaminants and hydrocarbons, such as fuel, oil and grease.
- Store under cover in a clean, dry, and well ventilated area.
- Keep away from combustible materials.
- Keep away from extremes of heat.
- Keep away from open flames, cigarettes, and any other forms of heat source.
- Store separately from other types of medicinal gases and non-medical gases.
- Segregate full and empty cylinders.
- Use a FEFO stock system (first expire, first-out (cylinders that have the earliest expiration dates are used first)).
- Display signage to indicate where cylinders are stored - click here to purchase oxygen door stickers and signs from SOS's online shop.
Q. How should I transport medical oxygen cylinders?
A. Follow the points below as a general guide, and you can also download the Transporting Medical Gas Cylinders document by clicking the link above.
- Cylinders must be secured so that they cannot move or overturn during transport.
- Do not throw or subject cylinders to impact during loading operations.
- Other items in the vehicle should also be secured so that they do not come into contact with cylinders during transport.
- Cylinder valves must be closed whilst cylinders are being transported. Prior to transport, checks should be made to ensure there are no leaks. Cylinders should not be transported with auxiliary equipment attached to the valve outlet; disconnect regulators, hoses etc.
- Keep away from contaminants and hydrocarbons, such as fuel, oil and grease.
- Do not use open flames, smoke, or use any other form of heat source in the vicinity of medical oxygen cylinders.
Display a diamond shaped green compressed gas sign which measures 100mm x 100mm when carrying medical oxygen cylinders, to make the emergency services aware of potential hazards in the event of an accident or emergency. It is important to remove the sign when no compressed gas cylinders are on board so that emergency services are not misinformed.
Magnetic signs are a practical option which can be easily removed when not required - click here to purchase magnetic compressed gas signs from SOS's online shop.
Q. What is adiabatic compression phenomenon in oxygen cylinders?
A. Adiabatic compression in oxygen cylinders is a rare phenomenon. Heat is generated locally inside a component when pressure increases quickly, causing an ignition without an external heat input.
An adiabatic process can occur in oxygen cylinders when the rapid compression of oxygen gas generates heat. When this heat is generated within a component such as an oxygen cylinder valve or regulator it can lead to an ignition within the component which usually occurs in less than 1 second.
An example would be when an oxygen cylinder's primary isolation valve is opened very quickly before selecting a flow rate on the regulator. This would allow oxygen to rush into the regulator where it would hit a dead end. Where non-metallic materials such as gas seals are exposed near the dead end inside the regulator, they are exposed to rapid compression and ignite because a maximum compression temperature that exceeds the auto-ignition temperature of the non-metallic material has been reached.
Ignition occurs in an oxygen system when oxygen, fuel and energy combine to create a chemical reaction (fire triangle).
Although oxygen, fuel and ignition sources are present in all oxygen systems, the risk of fire can be mitigated by limiting the possibility for a chemical reaction.
SOS oxygen cylinders minimise the risk of ignition caused by adiabatic compression byusing specialised oxygen safe seals and materials that do not sustain combustion.
Q. What colour are medical oxygen cylinders in the UK?
A. Medical oxygen cylinders in the UK are pure white all over (they have a white body and white shoulder).
Medical Gas Supply
We have bespoke options designed for specific customer requirements
Check out our cylinder pages for our range of medical oxygen cylinders and Nitronox cylinders, incorporating the latest design and technology to help you concentrate on providing a lifeline to patients in emergency situations.
Contact Us
Please use our enquiry form to place an order or arrange a call-back to discuss your requirements, or alternatively, here's a handy list of contacts that will put you straight in touch with the people you're looking for.
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Accounts: accounts@sosoxygen.co.uk
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General Enquiries: office@sosoxygen.co.uk
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Sales: sales@sosoxygen.co.uk
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Tel: 01257 254525
