Oxygen tanks in vehicle first aid kit

[BK-72]

At work we are looking to add a oxygen tank to our responder bag in our security vehicle. Traditionally we have not had one stored inside the vehicle, pulling it instead from the nearest building as needed.

Obviously we want to increase our response time in providing first aid, but are wary of any danger's of storing a 02 tank inside a vehicle.

The vehicle is not garaged, so will be subject to temperature extreme's. This is our primary concern. Any thoughts on this please?

(Any other thoughts on the subject are welcome)

[Rick]

Talk to your supplier. I'm sure they can give you all the info you need. It's carried in ambulances so I'd think it would be okay. But I'd touch base with your supplier just to be certain.

[welderguy]

My brother in law carries them around all the time and has never had a problem. i have one in my BLS bag but it doesn't stay in my truck .

[oldsoldier]

BK.... as a EMT/P I carry a "jump kit" in my vehicle all the time, I carry O2 among other things including a cardio defib unit. The thing you need to remember is that you don't want to expose your tanks to long term high temps. Not so much as an explosion danger but it is not good for the O2. I have been told that extreme temp changes can cause the O2 to go "stale" quicker therefore loosing it's effectiveness. So you may consider putting it in a gear bag and taking it inside between "shifts" to help keep it from temp changes.

[rat31465]

I spent 8 years working for medical oxygen companies and one thing that was drilled into our heads was to Never, never carry O2 in any type of bag. There is a very real danger of O2 saturating the bag and becoming a fire hazard. Only carry the O2 in a well ventilated manner and I wouldn't worry about the O2 losing its effectiveness or going stale as the shelf life of tank O2 is five years.
Also remember to keep O2 away from any type of Petroleum based produsts such as Oil, Grease, Vasoline, Mentholateum etc... Spontaneous combustion is a very real danger.

[Rick]

I would think a tank sitting in a hot car would be pretty tough sucking on. I mean if the O2 inside the tank is sitting at 110F, let's say, wouldn't that be the temp of the O2 the patient is sucking in? I suppose there would be some cooling during conversion back to a gas but still.

[crashdive123]

Actually, with the pressure change (high to low) there is a significant amount of cooling. Just like with a scuba tank or an air bottle on a scba, if the gas (air) release is allowed to flow unrestricted you will get an ice build up. You won't get ice with the slower release into a regularor, but it will still cool. Going from low pressure to high pressure will generate heat.

[welderguy]

Ive never heard that about storing a O bottle in a bag, when I was in SAR the O2 kit I bought came in a cordura bag It came from FERNO that way. I was told never to put any type of oil in the gauges or to let the gauge or regulator get damaged due to possible damage or breech.

[crashdive123]

The hazard associated with oil or any petroleum product and the oxygen bottles (or high pressure air) isn't the proximity between the two, but rather if the petroleum product is introduced "inside" the components of the bottled system. The results could be explosive.

[oldsoldier]

Welderguy.... I have always carried my O2 in a bag. I bought my set-up in a carry bag. It is made for the tank, has a storage area for tubing.masks,etc. The "neck" of the tank is exposed for easy hook-up never had any problems but what rat says makes sense if the valve wasn't tightened or sprang a leak, that could be a problem.

[welderguy]

Didn't we have the oil in a regulator talk in a welding /cutting torch thread

[Rick]

I don't remember that one, dad, but we're all ears.

[crashdive123]

Didn't we have the oil in a regulator talk in a welding /cutting torch thread

Don't know about that one, but I remember somebody cautioning others to not use petroleum jelly on an oxygen mask. (and IMO an inaccurate warning)

[welderguy]

oldsolider,
Sounds like our bags are similar, Except mine is fully enclosed however there are vents in the sides front and back. maybe thats why. I also have space for a infant, adolescent and adult ambu-bag

[Rick]

Can you just buy O2 and add it to your kit? No Rx or anything? Seems like when dad was getting cancer treatments he couldn't get O2 until his sats dropped below a certain level. 96 maybe?

[welderguy]

Don't know about that one, but I remember somebody cautioning others to not use petroleum jelly on an oxygen mask. (and IMO an inaccurate warning)

Thats right , sorry was thinking something else.

[crashdive123]

Rick - not sure if you need an Rx to buy bottled O2 or not. I read a while back where "canned" oxygen was becoming all the rage in some areas. If I remember correctly it looked like spray paint or hair spray cans with compressed O2. (don't get them mixed up)

[welderguy]

I don't know I bought mine thru my Dept. but i can get it refiled at any home health store with no problem.

[welderguy]

Can you just buy O2 and add it to your kit? No Rx or anything? Seems like when dad was getting cancer treatments he couldn't get O2 until his sats dropped below a certain level. 96 maybe?

I called my Brother in law, he said to his knowledge no RX is needed. so he called the medical director and he said A doctor does have to give a referal.

[Rick]

That's what I thought. It's been a few years but it seems like dad's O2 hovered just above the magic number for several weeks. If it was 96 then he as like 96.5 or something like that. He had to hit that particular number before the doctor would order the O2 and we couldn't just pick it up. Again, it's been a while but I think the doctor wrote out an RX for it.

Thanks for checking on it.