Nikole Babb
nbabb@cherryroad.com
Firebreaks stop home oxygen-related fires
A small plastic tube that retails for just $5 could save thousands of lives annually yet isn’t widely known. Andover Fire Chief Chad Russell says the Firebreak isn’t well advertised but is something he wants everyone that uses home oxygen therapy to utilize.
A firebreak tube is a small tube that measures less than two inches in length. It may be small, but it’s designed as a safety device that prevents oxygen tubing from igniting a fire, stopping what could end in a deadly accident.
“Home oxygen therapy fires are horrific,” said Chief Russell.
The tube acts as a thermal fuse, extinguishing fire and stopping oxygen flow if a fire is ignited. Stopping the flow of oxygen is important in saving lives as fires thrive and grow rapidly in environments with high oxygen levels.
“Oxygen is not flammable, but it supports aggressive combustion,” said Chief Russell. “So, we know that these folks with nasal cannulas that are at home, not only do they have oxygen flowing right now and it’s all around their face, but their clothes are hyper oxygenated. So, they’re more flammable than they really would be.”
Many fires that affect home oxygen users are started by smoking cigarettes, cooking on a gas stove, using a home fireplace and even lighting a candle. Instead of asking users to stop doing or using certain things, Chief Russell is asking them to be safer in order to save their lives.
“From the fire service standpoint, we’re trying to change the conversation,” said Chief Russell. “We’re not going to tell you to quit smoking anymore. We just want you to be safer if you’re going to smoke. We don’t want you to smoke. But if you’re going to smoke, we want you to be safer.”
As a result of installing the tiny tube, if a fire is detected, the oxygen stops flowing and the fire is extinguished if it reaches the firebreak. This will result in fewer home fires, less severe burns for the user and fewer tragedies.
Over the last four years, Ascension Via Christ St. Francis in Wichita reported that they treated 67 individual burn patients that were home oxygen users. Of those patients, 32 of them had an average hospital stay was seven days while the other 35 were not admitted into the hospital. The average cost of the 32 inpatient’s stay was $91,000.
While one firebreak near the nose is a great step forward, Chief Russell says he’d love to see two firebreaks for each user. One at the nose and the other firebreak connected near the concentrator.
A common trend is for home oxygen users to utilize a long oxygen tube so they can move easier around their home; this can leave the tube vulnerable to ignition at both ends without the user knowing immediately. If a longer tube is chosen, two firebreaks can be beneficial.
The shelf life of firebreaks is five years, making the maximum investment $10 each year for users. In addition, Medicaid covers the cost of firebreaks.
Even though home oxygen fires are a common issue, firebreak devices aren’t required for home oxygen providers to include in the equipment. Chief Russell says he’s creating a group to lobby for the passage of this requirement for oxygen providers in the future.
“I think what I really want people to know is that the device exists,” said Chief Russell. “And I want them to know that they’re available and regardless of whether Medicaid pays for it, regardless of whether insurance pays for it, regardless of anything else, if you are concerned about it for your loved one, you can get online and buy one of these and put it in their nasal cannula tubing and keep them safer.”
It’s estimated that there are about 12,000 home oxygen users in the state of Kansas. Learn more about firebreak devices at https://www.bprmedical.com/product/firesafe-cannula-valve/.
