CNBNews

On arrival crews discovered an elderly male that had been smoking while using oxygen. The male sustained serious  burns to his airway and was transported to Cooper Trauma Center,then flown to a burn center in PA.  This is the 3rd serious incident all with in the last year.

As the baby boomer generation ages, the prevalence of patients using portable medical oxygen to treat pulmonary diseases is on the rise. While this treatment helps patients live richer lives with increased independence, it’s critical that those who use home oxygen understand the associated risks. Normally, the air we breathe every day contains around 20 percent oxygen. The air delivered to patients using this therapy contains nearly 100 percent, making it extremely flammable. Individuals using home oxygen need to be particularly vigilant in keeping the system away from candle flames and other heat sources in the home. Additionally, there is an extremely elevated risk to smokers who use home oxygen.