Our veteran clinicians share their tips for success for oxygen therapy
ASK APRIA
Today's Clinician
Kelly Ann O'Malley
Kelly Ann has been a Registered Respiratory Therapist for 35 years and has been helping Apria's patients for 23 years. Kelly Ann works in the Colorado area and in her free time she enjoys taking advantage of the surrounding nature to stay active and live a healthy lifestyle.
RESPIRATORY
Q. I read that you can’t use Vaseline, Chapstick, or lip balm while on oxygen therapy, what am I supposed to do for chapped lips?
A. You should just steer clear of the petroleum-based based products, like Vaseline and Chapstick. Petroleum-based products are combustible, making them a fire hazard, and shouldn't be used around oxygen.
You can, however, use lip balms that are petroleum-free or water-based. A few brands that I recommend are Burt’s Bees, Aquagel, KY Jelly, and EOS 100% natural. All of these can be found at your local pharmacy or supermarket.
Q. Where is the best location to put a swivel on my 50-foot oxygen hose? My hose is constantly looping.
A. We provide two different styles of swivels. One is placed between the 50 ft. tubing and your cannula and the other can be placed on the concentrator that connects to the tubing. When you use them together it will help with kinking.
The swivels to look for are pictured below:
Oxygen Tubing Swivel Connector, connects the tubing with your cannula
Salter Male/Female Swivel Connector, connects your concentrator with tubing
Q. I use oxygen 24/7 and I’m getting water in my cannula at the Y. My cannulas are only lasting a few days. How can I stop this?
A. First, when you're putting water in to your humidifier make sure that you're filling your bubbler humidifier bottle just below the max fill line. If you go above the max fill line it can cause water to back into the tubing. You can also add a water trap that will collect water in the tubing and can be emptied out. If you'd like to use a water trap, they are available for patients, just contact your local Apria branch and request one.
Do you have a question for our Respiratory Therapists to be answered in a future email?
We want to hear from you!
.jpg?width=1120&height=376&name=AD-NewsletterBanner-GeneralRespiratory-1120x376-FNL%20(1).jpg)