Stupid question about oxygen administration....?

[Tk11]

It's always The simplest things I have a hard time remembering. Anyway... with the O2 tank you have a regulator and the key right? When using the key on the tank, tightening all the way to the right that just keeps it or prevents leaks is that correct? And loosing it bleeds off pressure? Or what? Thank you to anyone who clears this up for me. As you can probably tell I'm new to this, still going through schooling.

 

[DesertMedic66]

Turn it one way and nothing comes out because the valve is closed. Turn it the other way and oxygen comes out because the valve is open.

 

[Tk11]

Turn it one way and nothing comes out because the valve is closed. Turn it the other way and oxygen comes out because the valve is open.

Right. And you want to open it to bleed off when you are done using it, is this correct?

 

[DesertMedic66]

Are you talking about opening the tank or the regulator? If you are storing the tank you can turn the tank off and then bleed the O2 out of the r educator by turning the regulator on. However not very many people turn off the tank when storing it.

 

[Tk11]

Are you talking about opening the tank or the regulator? If you are storing the tank you can turn the tank off and then bleed the O2 out of the r educator by turning the regulator on. However not very many people turn off the tank when storing it.

Talking about the tank. I guess what I'm trying to say is when would you loosen the valve? Sorry for all the questions, I can't seem to find it anywhere. The instructors ask every little thing about everything and we need to know them.

 

[DesertMedic66]

You loosen the valve (opens the tank) when you need to either clear debris from the opening or deliver oxygen to a patient.

 

[Tk11]

You loosen the valve (opens the tank) when you need to either clear debris from the opening or deliver oxygen to a patient.

Thank you. I know everything about giving oxygen it's just all the small things about the O2 tank itself I for whatever reason have trouble remember.

 

[Jim37F]

Here basically we start with a full tank with a closed valve, some people crack it open to clear any debris, not all do, attach the regulator to the tank, open said tank and use keep the regulator at zero until you apply O2 to the patient....once the tank is low enough to be refilled we open the regulator to bleed the rest of the tank, then close the valve and remove the regulator.

Basically the tank valve stays open as long as the regulator is on, and the valve is closed when there is no regulator on it.

 

[Tk11]

Here basically we start with a full tank with a closed valve, some people crack it open to clear any debris, not all do, attach the regulator to the tank, open said tank and use keep the regulator at zero until you apply O2 to the patient....once the tank is low enough to be refilled we open the regulator to bleed the rest of the tank, then close the valve and remove the regulator.

Basically the tank valve stays open as long as the regulator is on, and the valve is closed when there is no regulator on it.

Thank you. The tanks we have in class are all empty so when I "turn it on" I don't know really know if I did it right if that makes sense. Thanks for the input, appreciate it.

 

[ThadeusJ]

Since you're a newby, it should also be mentioned that the plastic washers that come with the cylinder are meant to be crushed once and only once to form a seal on the regulator. Never loosen the regulator and retighten unless you have a a metal washer with a neoprene center that is meant to be reused a few times. People will often stack two or more which can cause leaks and has been known to start flash fires.

Turn on the cylinder and try to face the gauge away from you or cover it with your hand. If the internal diaphragms weaken, the pressure can be shot through the gauge (known to happen). Open the cylinder all the way by turning counter clockwise and see where the gauge needle rises to. This will indicate whether a) the gauge is operating properly and 2) that the cylinder is full (many services fill their own cylinders). When not in use, turn the cylinder off completely as the regulator can leak (or the seal between the cylinder and the regulator) and drain your cylinder when not in use.