OXYGEN CYLINDER
An oxygen tank is an oxygen storage vessel, which is either held under pressure in gas cylinders, or as liquid oxygen in a cryogenic storage tank.
Uses
Oxygen tanks are used to store gas for:
- medical breathing at medical facilities and at home
- breathing at altitude in aviation, either in a decompression emergency, or constantly (as in unpressurized aircraft)
- oxygen first aid kits
- oxygen therapy
- gas blending, for creating diving breathing mixes such as nitrox, trimix and heliox
- open-circuit scuba sets – mainly used for accelerated decompression in technical diving
- some types of diving rebreather: oxygen rebreathers and fully closed circuit rebreathers
- use in climbing, “Bottled oxygen” refers to oxygen tanks for mountaineering
- industrial processes, including the manufacture of steel and monel
- oxyacetylene welding equipment, glass lampworking torches, and some gas cutting torches
- use as liquid rocket propellants for rocket engines
- athletes, specifically on American football sidelines, to expedite recovery after exertion.
Oxygen Cylinder Safety
Do
DO LEARN PROPER MEDICAL CYLINDER SAFETY HANDLING
DO TRANSPORT CYLINDERS CORRECTLY
DO SET UP CYLINDERS FOR CLINICAL USE AT A SAFE DISTANCE FROM THE PATIENT
DO STORE CYLINDERS CORRECTLY
Do not
DO NOT ALTER, TRANSPORT OR HANDLE CYLINDERS INCORRECTLY
DO NOT USE UN-CERTIFIED MEDICAL OXYGEN CYLINDERS
DO NOT USE OIL, LUBRICANTS OR ALCOHOL-BASED HAND SANITIZER ON CYLINDER’S FITTINGS
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REPAIR A CYLINDER OR A VALVE IF LEAKAGE IS DETECTED