Naked flames and oxygen?????

[tanyamarie]

Well, I don't know if I'm being a tad dull here. I suggested to my mum n dad to get their candles out, ready for the dark evenings. They said they couldn't use them because of the oxygen in the house. So that got me thinking. If you can't use candles, what about a gas fire?

[lemondrop]

Not rocket science no naked flames (gas fires, cookers, or blowing out candles) anywhere within 10feet.

[tanyamarie in reply to lemondrop]

thanks for making me feel thick as two short planks lemondrop!

[lemondrop in reply to tanyamarie]

Sorry, you have done a good thing raising a point that seemed obvious but not as smart as I thought I was with no idea what 2 meters was, when that is supposed to be a safe distance for you.

[Gordon57 in reply to lemondrop]

2 meters - gas & electric ? I guess you meant 2 metres

[amagran]

we always used to have gas fire on between heaing cos it came on 3 times a day, i have now altered the heating to come on all day. I also love candles and oil burners, all put away now. health and safety hat on. haha

[tanyamarie in reply to amagran]

Obviously I wouldn't put a naked flame in the near vicinity of oxygen but I just didn't think a little tea light candle would hurt. And mam n dad are shopping for a new gas fire and so I thought I would check it out here with all the experts like you amagran!

[Hidden]

Tanyamarie, as an oxygen user I still use the gas fire at times (though I ask someone else to put it on and don't sit too close). I was advised not to use candles but admit I still do as I like the lightly scented ones, though again I am very careful not to be close to them. If they are on the hearth and I am sat a couple of metres away, making sure my tubing is behind not in front of me, then I reckon I am safe. We must just be sensible and take the proper precautions to keep safe.

Auntymary xx

[tanyamarie in reply to Hidden]

Well thankyou very much Auntymary, I thought I going nuts! My dad sits in the front room (theres an archway to th eliving room) and the fire is in the living room. He doesn't sit in the living room now as the front room has been turned into his bedroom/sitting room. He doesn't go anywhere near the fire so that is why I though of mum having a few candles there.

[Hidden in reply to tanyamarie]

Just be sure candles are pinched between wet fingers, not blown out. Am

[Hidden]

Hi tanyamarie,

Listen to auntymary, she knows best.

You know that lemondrops are sour !!!

Take care

Dave xxx

[tanyamarie in reply to Hidden]

I had a thing for sherbert lemons when I was younger and they gave me terrible toothache!

Thanks Dave

[Hidden in reply to tanyamarie]

Oops - I still have a thing for sherbert lemons, though I don't let myself be tempted very often these days.

[tanyamarie in reply to Hidden]

Well, between those and trebor mints..........my fillings are testimony lol.

[amagran in reply to tanyamarie]

well here goes, my name is amagran and I am an addict, in my case it's refreshers, i eat them till my cheeks and tongue go funny,

[tanyamarie in reply to amagran]

ewww refreshers, yuk! You can keep em all hunny!!!!

[amagran]

the little white thing on the pipe, near where the cannula is, is a stop valve, it automatically stops any flame going up or down. personally I would have thought that the little bit of oxygen between that and the face would not be a big explosion, especially as I know of some people who have smoked while wearing it and burnt their noses. I just guess its better to be safe than sorry. When I read the booklet that came with the oxygen I was surprised at some things, like turning the bed down in a morning in case some oxygen is between the covers. if the gas fire is nowhere near where you sit it should be fine, richards chair is right at the side of the fire because the radiator is behind that chair, my chair is by the window so i can hang out of it when I get too warm. Having a smelly old dog, not a euphanism for richard, we have a 13 yr old mongrel, I feel the constant need for smellies, so the oil burners have been replaced by plugins, more expensive but better than eau de dog.

[tanyamarie in reply to amagran]

Eau de dog is a top seller in a lot of homes I'm sure! I like the plug ins too but they get too much at times I think. I will have a read of the his oxygen book tomorrow........

[Hidden in reply to amagran]

It wouldn't explode amagran. The oxy would excelerate the fire though and I have seen some terrible pictures of folk with a charred, black hole where their nose used to be! That is why I say that we need to be sensible (and smoking whilst using oxygen is not my idea of good sense). As Zoee says, it needs a couple of metres between the flame and the oxygen tubing.

Any update on Richard's PR?

[amagran in reply to Hidden]

he goes to pr 2nd october, we are actually going to have a regular social life , twice a week for 8 weeks, hope they have bingo hahahah

[Hidden in reply to amagran]

Oh, I think you will find the numbers are much more exciting than bingo - repetitions, oxygen sats, BORG scores - the mind boggles. Just don't go shouting "House"!

[tanyamarie in reply to Hidden]

yes especially if the number 88 comes up.....................when they be talking about stats lol!

[Hidden]

The oxygen suppliers are suppose to give information about the safety tanyamarie, your parents may have the information and just a question of reading on contacting the suppliers.

The NHS pdf below says keep oxygen away from naked flame gas fire or cookers etc at least 6ft or 2metres. (note it says AT LEAST 6ft or 2 metres)

nhs.uk/Conditions/home-oxyg...

Hope that helps, maybe double check the info.

[tanyamarie in reply to Hidden]

I will, i'll read it tomorrow. Dad and the oxygen is well away from the fire and the would be candles so I think it will all be okay. I thought it was okay but you know when you doubt yourself...........

[anniediv]

We had this very thought on dad's birthday - 79 candles and his oxygen - fortunstely it was one birthday that didn't go with a bang ; )

[Hidden]

My husband has just got oxygen delivered and he is worried sick about it catching fire. I have told him we are all electric and there is not a naked flame anywhere to be seen. The oxygen is nowhere near the kitchen when I use the electric oven,no naked flame again. I have told him the only way it will cause problems is if the house caught fire.

[HuwieHex]

I have a tank of oxygen from which I refill my portable unit. A few years ago I asked the local (Tyne and Wear) Fire Service to advise about storage. They did, they offered advice and they return every year to check that it is not a hazard to myself or others.

[lemondrop]

Taken from your own NHS guide that Zoee put in and must be read by oxygen users:

"Do not light candles, lanterns, fires, and cookers or smoke while you are wearing your oxygen. There is a serious risk of fire or burns"

When you need oxygen information get it from the oxygen suppliers not the maintenance guy fixing the fire it will save calling a fire truck.

[morso1]

Any fire burns easy in oxygen which is going down to the lungs,

"Firefighters say the burns happened because the woman, whose name was not released, was smoking a cigarette while using oxygen. She was flown to Wishard Burn Center in Indianapolis. Firefighters said it is likely the woman has suffered severe burns to her respiratory tract."

courierpress.com/news/2007/...

a fire that has plenty of oxygen will burn faster, so you can take friends family and neighbors with you using oxygen without keeping to the rules.

[mrWheezy]

Tanyamarie, i can see you have had lots of comments regarding this question - some good some not so good.

All i can say is this- oxygen is not flammable but an accellerant to a fire, if a candle has sufficient atmosphere to burn normally there is no risk of it jumping several feet to the tubes or tank, i use tea light candles around the living and dining room in the evening it sets a nice ambiance and helps me relax,we do this every evening for months and i have never thought "ooh im in danger " or "i shouldnt be doing this"

before i get massive negative responses can i just say i am a well educated 38 year old man and after speaking to my local fire department regarding this as long as i am sensible and in a well ventilated area there is no risk of injury or fire/explosion.

I will say this though, i use a portable oxygen tank with a conserver and as all equipment is different i would say get an expert opinion before putting yourself at risk.

Hope this helps

Tony xx

[Hidden in reply to mrWheezy]

Mr Wheezy, the voice of common sense.

[libbygood]

I have sat in front of an open fire whilst using oxygen, I'm sitting in front of it now, just have to be careful and sinsible. The concentrator is in a room with a log burner, the technician said it was OK

[tanyamarie]

Thankyou everyone who took the time to reply. My dad read the book he had with the oxygen and both my mum and dad are happy using a gas fire as he is always outside the required safety distance. He's banished to the front room lol! As for the candles, well thats up to mam n dad and knowing mam she probably wont take any chances and will leave em for now.

Cheers all xx

[mrWheezy]

like i said

"before i get massive negative responses can i just say i am a well educated 38 year old man and after speaking to my local fire department regarding this as long as i am sensible and in a well ventilated area there is no risk of injury or fire/explosion.I will say this though, i use a portable oxygen tank with a conserver and as all equipment is different i would say get an expert opinion before putting yourself at risk."

each case must be assessed individually as in the case of our diseases no two situations are the same