Cooking and oxygen. An explosive recipe.
BACKGROUND
Home oxygen therapy is commonly prescribed for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The risks of smoking while using this therapy have been well described.


OBJECTIVE
To discuss the Royal Brisbane Hospital Burns Unit's experience and present case studies which illustrate the danger of alternative ignition sources while using home oxygen.


CONCLUSIONS
The dangers of home oxygen therapy can be minimised by careful patient selection, education and ongoing monitoring.
Royal Brisbane Hospital, Queensland.
H L
HL
Burns
D
D
Ralston
M
M
Muller
S
S
Pegg
D000061:Accidents, Home; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D003296:Cooking; D005107:Explosions; D006801:Humans; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; D012907:Smoking