Oxegen Use While Boating

[terryp]

Hi all,
My wife has just been advised that she requires oxegen 24/7. We are wondering how this will affect our boating? Can oxegen be used while on a boat? What precautions would we need to take? Any advice or experience appreciated.

 

[Kreole Kid]

Terryp, I am a DME provider here in New Orleans, and I do provide O2 therapy as well as beds, wheelchairs,etc. however I am not a clinician. I don't see a problem with what you are attempting to do. There are a few physicians on this blog, they may have some more info clinically. As for as usage, just make sure the tank(s) are not stored away in a confined space such as a closet or storage bin. Hope that helps you out some...


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[Pyrojodge]

One of my best boat friends is on 24 hr oxygen as well. He carries O2 bottles around in milk crates and has a small 120v portable unit that he keeps in his salon. He is able to do most every thing himself. He has a long lanyard that he can stretch from his salon to his V-birth and also reach onto his back deck. For when he is piloting the boat he uses that small oxygen bottles and a portable regulator. It can be done and I hope that your wife is doing well. When my friend was told of his condition he was very close to giving up. Now we can't stop him now that his is used to the "extra" work to carry the equipment. He was also fortunate enough to find a supplier that would deliver to the boat for his O2 needs! Best of luck, keep us posted.

 

[dwna1a]

Get with your supplier and advise them of your wishes to continue boating. They make small portable units that may be better than carrying a bottle. As a firefighter, mark your boat and your slip with a "Oxygen in Use" placard, it may sound silly but it's a good thing to know in the middle of the night when your called down for a boat fire.

 

[terryp]

Jason and Bruce, thank you both very much for the encouraging words. My wife was thrilled to hear them. We call boating our 'happy place', so to think that we might lose that was discouraging to both of us.

 

[melida]

Not a clinicall oxygen question, I have a small (for 15-20 minutes) dive tank which ı carry for emergency dives under my vberth storage.

Should I worry aobut the same risk of storing medical oxygen tank like expolosion, or my tank material/body is thicker than the medical and no problem with mine ?

TIA

 

[moparlvr4406]

Get with your supplier and advise them of your wishes to continue boating. They make small portable units that may be better than carrying a bottle. As a firefighter, mark your boat and your slip with a "Oxygen in Use" placard, it may sound silly but it's a good thing to know in the middle of the night when your called down for a boat fire.

In addition to this...she needs to have enough backup bottles to cover the time/distance you could possibly cover in case of a unit failure. My Dad is on O2 and carries small (1hour bottles) in all of his cars
Last year he had a flat tire and needless to say couldn't change it and had to call his supplier to make an emergency delivery to a mall parking lot when his motor club put him off for 3 hours to come repair his tire...they showed up just before his backup was gone.

 

[rcon]

Not a clinicall oxygen question, I have a small (for 15-20 minutes) dive tank which ı carry for emergency dives under my vberth storage.

Should I worry aobut the same risk of storing medical oxygen tank like expolosion, or my tank material/body is thicker than the medical and no problem with mine ?

TIA

Dive tanks are compressed air, not compressed oxygen. Chops to approx 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and residual is all sorts.

Yes, there is an additional explosion hazard, but only when tank heated - any leaks would not be any more hazardous than usual air.

Unless of course your pony bottle is oxygen enriched? (Nitrox)

But keep in mind compressed air has its own set of hazards, and would not be a welcome addition to any fire.

 

[melida]

Dive tanks are compressed air, not compressed oxygen. Chops to approx 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and residual is all sorts.

Yes, there is an additional explosion hazard, but only when tank heated - any leaks would not be any more hazardous than usual air.

Unless of course your pony bottle is oxygen enriched? (Nitrox)

But keep in mind compressed air has its own set of hazards, and would not be a welcome addition to any fire.

Rcon, thanks.
Got it, mine is regular dive tank, no nitrox, then not much worry about it.