Medical Oxygen
BOC
A Member of The Linde Group
Compressed Medical Oxygen Medicinal gas, compressed
Package Leaflet: Information for the User
Compressed Medical Oxygen
Oxygen 99.5%
Medicinal gas, compressed
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start
using this medicine.
• Keep this leaflet as you may need to read it again.
• If you have further questions, ask your healthcare professional (doctor, nurse or pharmacist) or homecare provider.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you.
• Do not pass it on to others as it may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.
• If any of the side effects become serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your healthcare professional or homecare provider immediately.
This leaflet gives you information about:
1. What is Compressed Medical Oxygen and what is it used for
2. Things to consider before use
3. How to use Compressed Medical Oxygen
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Compressed Medical Oxygen cylinders
6. Further Information
1. WHAT IS COMPRESSED MEDICAL OXYGEN AND WHAT IS IT USED FOR?
Compressed Medical Oxygen is a medicinal gas, supplied in cylinders filled to a high pressure. Medical Oxygen is used:
• during anaesthesia and for recovery following surgery
• to treat or prevent oxygen deficiency in the body in many different situations such as:
• surgery or major trauma such as a road traffic accident
• heart attacks
• severe blood loss
• carbon monoxide poisoning
• severe lung and heart conditions
• very high fevers
• for resuscitation of adults, children and babies.
• for treatment of cluster headaches
2. THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE USE
Medical Oxygen is only prescribed to you by a healthcare professional.
Ensure that your healthcare professional is aware of any medical conditions that you may have.
Take special care when using Medical Oxygen if:
• your baby requires extra oxygen and is premature. Only give the amount of Medical Oxygen advised by your healthcare professional
• you are suffering from chronic lung disease, such as bronchitis or emphysema. The amount of Medical Oxygen used must be carefully controlled to the flow rate that has been prescribed to you by your healthcare professional
• you have accidentally taken Paraquat (a type of weed killer), advise your healthcare professional before using Medical Oxygen, as there is a possibility of toxic effects to the lungs
Taking other medicines
If you have been taking or prescribed Bleomycin (to treat cancer), Amiodarone (to treat an irregular heartbeat) or Nitrofurantoin and similar antibiotics (to treat infection), advise your healthcare professional before using Medical Oxygen, as there is a possibility of toxic effects to the lungs.
Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
Pregnancy and breast feeding
Medical Oxygen will not affect you or your baby if used during pregnancy or whilst breast feeding.
Driving and using machines
You may drive and use machines after using Medical Oxygen providing that your healthcare professional considers that you are both fit and capable.
3. HOW TO USE COMPRESSED MEDICAL OXYGEN
Instructions for use
In a hospital or clinic Medical Oxygen will be given to you by a healthcare professional. They will ensure that your Medical Oxygen supply is suitable for your use and that the equipment has been set up correctly so that you receive the right amount of oxygen.
To breathe your Medical Oxygen you will either be given a face mask or a nasal cannula. The prongs on the cannula are inserted into your nostrils and the tubing is placed over your ears and adjusted under your neck for comfort. The face mask or nasal cannula is connected to your oxygen system with the tubing provided.
Always use your Medical Oxygen exactly as your healthcare professional has shown you and at the correct flow rate. You should check with your healthcare professional if you are not sure.
If you are using the gas at home you will be given full training by your homecare provider on the use of the cylinder and equipment when you receive your first supply.
When using your Compressed Medical Oxygen at home, you must:
• ensure that the cylinder is stood upright on a flat surface and supported so that it will not fall over. Small cylinders may be laid down if appropriate. Never place the cylinder on your bed when it is in use.
• check the contents gauge on the cylinder or the regulator before you start to make sure there is enough gas available for your use
• check that the tubing is correctly fitted to the outlet
• select the flow prescribed by your healthcare professional , as advised by your homecare provider
• ensure that all your cylinder and any additional delivery equipment is kept free from oil and grease
• open the cylinder valve slowly
• turn the cylinder valve 'OFF' with moderate force only when the cylinder is not in use
• if a leak occurs, this will be evident by a hissing noise. Close the cylinder valve and check the connection of the tubing to the outlet. If the leak continues close the valve and contact your homecare provider.
• close the valve when the cylinder is empty using moderate force only when the cylinder is empty
• always use your Medical Oxygen exactly as your homecare provider has shown you. You should check with your homecare provider if you are not sure.
DO NOT SMOKE or let anyone else smoke near your Medical Oxygen gas cylinder
DO NOT USE your oxygen cylinder near open fires or naked flames as oxygen will make a flame burn much more violently.
NEVER use oil based moisturising creams with your cylinder equipment. If using alcohol gels allow plenty of time for the alcohol gel to dry before handling oxygen equipment.
If you use more Medical Oxygen than you should
In most cases it is unlikely that an overdose could occur if you follow your healthcare professional's advice.
If you are concerned that you have used too much Medical Oxygen and feel unwell or if you have any questions on the correct use of Medical Oxygen, please ask your healthcare professional.
4. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Like all medicines, Medical Oxygen may cause side effects, although not everybody will get them.
The side effects that may occur whilst using Medical Oxygen are:
• soreness of the chest associated with coughing and breathing difficulties after breathing pure oxygen for a prolonged period (6-12 hours). This is made worse by smoking and exposure to cold air
• dizziness, fits and loss of consciousness after 2-3 hours of exposure, which can occur if you are treated with high pressure (hyperbaric) oxygen in pressurised chambers
• eye damage (retrolental fibroplasia) which can result in blindness, which may occur with new born babies if they are exposed to oxygen concentrations of more than 40%.
Reporting of side effects
If you experience any of these side effects, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, contact your healthcare professional immediately. You can also report side effects directly to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) via the Yellow Card Scheme www. mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard and to BOC Healthcare. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
Medical Oxygen cylinders
|
Medical Oxygen is supplied in the following size cylinders to hospitals and clinics: | |||
|
Cylinder Size |
Cylinder Contents (Litres) |
Cylinder Size |
Cylinder Contents (Litres) |
|
AZ* |
170 |
IQX |
2000 |
|
ZA |
300 |
HX* |
2300 |
|
D* |
340 |
ZX |
3040 |
|
CD |
460 |
G* |
3400 |
|
ZD |
605 |
J* |
6800 |
|
E* |
690 |
W |
11300 |
|
F* |
1360 | ||
|
Medical Oxygen is supplied in the following size cylinders for homecare use: | |||
|
Cylinder Size |
Cylinder Contents (Litres) |
Cylinder Size |
Cylinder Contents (Litres) |
|
ZA |
300 |
AF* |
680 |
|
CD |
460 |
DF* |
1360 |
|
DD |
460 |
ZH |
2400 |
5. HOW TO STORE COMPRESSED MEDICAL OXYGEN CYLINDERS
Expiry date
Do not use Medical Oxygen after the expiry date which is stated on the cylinder batch label.
Medical Oxygen should be used in strict rotation so that cylinders with the earliest filling date are used first.
Cylinder storage
Store your Medical Oxygen cylinders:
• so that they can not fall over and cause injury
• in clean, well ventilated and dry conditions, not exposed to extremes of heat or cold
• away from oil, grease and flammable material
• in a designated area, where they can be kept separate from other medical and non-medical cylinders, with empty and full cylinders kept apart
• out of sight and reach of children Handling cylinders
Always handle your Medical Oxygen cylinders with care, only moving them using an appropriate trolley, handling device or carrying bag.
6. FURTHER INFORMATION
What Medical Oxygen Contains
Your Medical Oxygen cylinder contains a minimum
of 99.5% Oxygen.
There are no other ingredients.
The colour coding of the shoulder of Oxygen cylinders is white. The body is colour coded white apart from the cylinders marked (*) in the table above which for a limited period may have a black body.
Shoulder of cylinders viewed from above
Body of cylinder types viewed from the side
Sizes ZA, ZD, CD, DD, DF, HX, IQX, ZH and ZX cylinders are supplied with an integral pressure regulator built into the cylinder valve. The IQX size cylinder has a digital gauge and display which provides visual and audible alarms.
All other cylinders require a separate pressure regulator to be fitted to the cylinder valve before use.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer BOC Ltd
The Priestley Centre
10 Priestley Road
The Surrey Research Park
Guildford
Surrey
GU2 7XY
Tel 0800 1 11333
This leaflet was last approved in 7/2016
HLC/505550_MEDOXY/UKS/0716
BOC: Living Healthcare