someone referenced this in a post and thought I would ask you guys for some advice on what to do when someone you love is dependent on an oxygen machine. We will have a genny and some extra L.P. but is there a better, less expensive way to keep my fathers oxygen machine running? What are people going to do? Company says they will bring extra tanks...but you all know the problem with that. Solor is out (don't think it does too good here in Illinois)and something that isn't going to cost an arm and a leg. Inverters and batteries? I think it pulls 4 amps (the oxygen machine) but its been awhile since I looked...thanks in advance. Jo

-- Anonymous, June 21, 1999

Answers

I can't really answer your question. The tanks they would bring are conpressed oxygen. 100% oxygen. The machine that he is on is nothing but a compressor. It sucks in enuff air and compresses it enuff to deliverr a max of 4 liters/minute of oxygen. Basically this is how airplanes function at high altitude. They are compressing air to where they get an atmosphere of about 7500 ft. Oxygen that is in the green tanks is made under a different system and require copious amounts of electricity. If I remember right its called fractional distillation and in essence is boiling off the nitrogen (80% of what we breath in ambiant air) leaving the oxygen (plus minute amounts of other gases). So....if the power stays down there will be a shortage of oxygen and most of that will go to the hospitals. I would think that solar would be your best and most dependable. You can't run your genset 24 hrs a day unless you have a large one, like a 20kw or more. I think I would check with EMS and ask them what they are going to do with oxygen dependent patients. They have surely considered this in their contingency plans.....if they have any. We live in hurricane country and I know that if you have a person with special medical needs there are specified shelters for said patients. Hope I have helped, but doubt it.

-- Anonymous, June 21, 1999

Jo Ann, From an engineering perspective, I would opt for the extra oxygen bottles as a backup for the ultimate in reliability, and maintain the generator as your source for power, with plenty of fuel. This should be much cheaper than batteries and inverter (your batteries just won't last near as long as you need without spending big bucks on a large battery bank) or solar (way too expensive, and you still have to have batteries for 24 hour power). Although I think your risk from y2k killing your power are extremely small, a loss of power from all the normal causes is very probable ANYTIME, even on January 1, 2000.

Regards,

-- Anonymous, June 21, 1999

There are variables here that would determine what to do. Is he receiving oxygen through a nasal cannula? If he is that tells me he is using from 1 to 6 liters per minute and that tells me how long a bottle would last based on bottle size (there is an equation to use since all oxygen in the bottle cannot be used.) If he is using a face mask then we are talking a higher level of oxygen. We are also talking about straight green oxygen bottles not requiring electrical hook up. Rather than take up space here if you would get in touch with me by e-mail and answer a few pertinent questions I can give you information. This was beaten into me when I became an EMT to help people who live in my subdivision. Marcella

-- Anonymous, June 21, 1999