How to Store Oxygen Tanks
Watch this demonstration from Brian Farbelow, Registered Respiratory Therapist and Sr. Director of VITAS Home Medical Equipment, for tips on the safest way to store medical oxygen tanks in a home
Oxygen Tanks are Powerful, Store Them Safely
When storing medical-grade oxygen tanks in a home, caregivers or loved ones should take precautions to ensure the safety of those nearby.
Follow these steps when storing oxygen tanks:
- Consider an oxygen container a “sleeping giant.”
- All oxygen cylinders should be secured in racks or stands to prevent them from tipping over.
- If a large cylinder is knocked over and its valve breaks off, it can accelerate to 40 MPH in 0.5 seconds.
- It has the power to break through two cinderblock walls.
Through our Home Medical Equipment (HME) teams, VITAS provides home medical equipment, including oxygen tanks, to our patients as part of the Medicare hospice benefit. Our dedicated team members also provide training and support on using the equipment.