Module 8: Oxygen
Disclaimer
This material is intended for use by trained family members and caregivers of children
with tracheostomies who are patients at the Alberta Children’s Hospital. Although
reasonable efforts were made to confirm the accuracy of the information, Alberta Health
Services does not make any representation or warranty, express, implied or statutory,
as to the accuracy, reliability, completeness, applicability or fitness for a particular
purpose of such information. This material is not a substitute for the advice of a
qualified health professional, so please seek medical advice from an appropriate health
professional for questions regarding the care and treatment of any patient. Alberta
Health Services expressly disclaims all liability for the use of these materials, and for
any claims, actions, demands or suits arising from such use.
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Oxygen
• A basic introduction about the
principles of oxygen therapy
• A child with a tracheostomy tube in
place may also require oxygen
therapy
Children’s Home Care Edmonton Zone 2016, Used with Permission
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Air
The air we breathe has:
• Nitrogen
• Trace elements
• Oxygen
Trace Elements,
1%
Oxygen, 21%
Nitrogen, 78%
Oxygen
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Nitrogen
Trace Elements
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Oxygen
•
•
•
•
•
Colorless
Odorless
Tasteless
All organic life requires oxygen to live
Oxygen is not flammable, but will act to make
a fire bigger if there is one present
• Oxygen is a prescribed medication that is only
administered under the care of a doctor
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Oxygen
• The oxygen in the air we breathe in
travels from our lungs into our
bloodstream
• Our heart then pumps the oxygen rich
blood to feed our organs
Children’s Home Care Edmonton Zone 2016, Used with Permission
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5/25/2017
Oxygen Therapy
• Oxygen may be prescribed if a child has hypoxemia (low oxygen levels in their
blood) and needs more oxygen than air can provide
• A pulse oximeter is a monitor that can read the amount of oxygen in the blood
without the need for a blood test o This will be used to confirm if your child will benefit from oxygen therapy
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Flowmeter
Oxygen Therapy
Photo Used with Permission, JD 2017
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Oxygen can be delivered:
• In the hospital:
o Oxygen can be delivered by a set flow rate,
measured in litres per minute (LPM) or as a
fraction / percentage of oxygen (FiO2)
• In the community:
o Oxygen can be delivered by a set flow rate in
LPM
5/25/2017
Oxygen Therapy
• Not every child with a trach tube or a ventilator needs oxygen therapy
• In the community, all oxygen therapy must be humidified
• If your child is prescribed oxygen therapy, your health care team will help you
learn how to safely set up and care for the equipment they will need
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Oxygen for Trachs
• In the hospital, oxygen can be delivered from a flowmeter on
the wall or an oxygen tank that can be connected to:
o A trach collar
o An HME/trach oxygen adaptor
o A ventilator adaptor
o A bagger
Children’s Home Care Edmonton Zone 2016, Used with Permission
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5/25/2017
Oxygen for Trachs
• In the home, oxygen can be delivered from a
concentrator or a tank that are connected to:
o A trach collar
o An HME/trach oxygen adaptor
o A ventilator adaptor
o A bagger
Children’s Home Care Edmonton Zone 2016, Used with Permission
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5/25/2017
Using a Flowmeter
• We use flowmeters to measure how much oxygen is
Float
delivered
Indicator
o Every flowmeter has a knob control and a float indicator
o Turning the knob controls how much flow is released
from the oxygen source
o The float indicator shows how many litres per minutes
are being released from the oxygen source
o The middle of the float indicator is used to measure your
set flow rate – this flowmeter is set to deliver 4 LPM
Photo Used with Permission, JD 2017
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Oxygen Set Up: Tank + HME/Trach Oxygen Adaptor
Children’s Home Care Edmonton Zone 2016, Used with Permission
Children’s Home Care Edmonton Zone 2016, Used with Permission
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Children’s Home Care Edmonton Zone 2016, Used with Permission
5/25/2017
Oxygen Tanks
Stroller
• Oxygen tanks are pressurized tanks that contain oxygen
• They must be stored safely and should be in a carry bag
or a tank stroller for transporting
• They will provide 100% oxygen at any flow rate, but will
empty faster at higher flow rates
Children’s Home Care Edmonton Zone 2016, Used with Permission
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Oxygen Set Up: Concentrator
Humidity Bottle
HME
Children’s Home Care Edmonton Zone 2016, Used with Permission
Children’s Home Care Edmonton Zone 2016, Used with Permission
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Oxygen Concentrators
• Oxygen concentrators take room air and concentrate the
oxygen from it before delivering it to the patient
• Most are not portable
• All require a power source – you will need back up oxygen
tanks in case of a power failure and for portability
• They can’t produce 100% oxygen, but can deliver almost 97%
oxygen at low flow rates
• For safety - they must be placed in open areas to prevent heat
build up and failure of the compressor
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Photo Used with Permission, JD 2017
5/25/2017
Oxygen Therapy Safety
• Your health care team and your respiratory vendor will help you learn about
oxygen therapy safety guidelines
• Oxygen supports combustion so:
o Never use oxygen near an open flame
o There should be no smoking allowed in the home with oxygen equipment
o Try to prevent static electricity as it may generate a spark
o Never use petroleum products on a child receiving oxygen therapy (e.g.
Vaseline or other ointments)
o Keep a fire extinguisher close by
NO SMOKING!!
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