Nowadays, for safety reasons, people prefer to travel by car rather than by plane. If you visit relatives, run errands, or even travel a lot, you drive there, but how do you travel with a portable oxygen concentrator (POC)?
Fortunately, portable oxygen concentrators come in all shapes and sizes. Some are even as light as 3.4 pounds! Traveling with supplemental oxygen should not be a difficult or stressful experience. Today, POC is equipped with a large number of useful and convenient concentrator accessories, such as a suitcase, trolley, backpack, car power supply, and so on, making driving easier!
Although it's easy to jump with a portable oxygen device, there are still some tips and guidelines to help you be relaxed and safe on your next car trip using oxygen! Read on and learn about our four tips for using POC in the car!
1. Do Not Leave Your Unit in the Car
Extreme temperature
One of our most important suggestions, especially in warm months, is not to leave the concentrator in the car! The working temperature rises to about 104 degrees; however, the temperature inside the car can easily exceed that of many popular resorts such as Las Vegas and Phoenix. POC is considered to be an electronic product, which is difficult to work at temperatures above 104 º F. High temperatures can easily damage the circuit in the device.
The same is true in cold temperatures. When the temperature is lower than 41 º F, the portable oxygen generator will be difficult to use. Don't leave POC in the car when it should be cold.
Lithium-ion battery
Equally important is the battery in your unit. The portable oxygen generator battery is a lithium-ion battery, which means that high temperatures will erode the efficiency of the battery, and the charging capacity of the battery will decrease over time. The same is true in cold temperatures. If the concentrator is exposed to extreme conditions, the machine must be restored to the correct operating temperature before continuing to use.
Theft
Unfortunately, we often hear stories from patients that their concentrators were stolen from their cars. POC is a valuable piece of equipment, which should be taken with you when you are not at home and placed in the line of sight. Suitcases, backpacks, and portable trolleys can help you comfortably put the concentrator within reach without limiting your freedom.
2. Don't smoke!
Smoking while breathing oxygen is the leading cause of fire injuries and related deaths. Do not smoke, use candles, or have any other open flames in vehicles equipped with oxygen concentrators or oxygen-carrying accessories. Smoking while wearing an oxygen cannula may cause facial burns and even death. Ensure that the sleeve is not removed and placed on any clothing, mat, or other flammable material during the use of the machine.
If you must smoke, please follow the following three steps to ensure your safety
1. Turn off the device.
2. Remove the casing
3. Leave the room where your car or oxygen equipment is located
3. Store your equipment safely
Proper storage
When driving, if possible, it is best to place the device on the floor on the passenger's side of the seat, but make sure that the device is fully fixed, buckled, and will not move or cause distraction when driving.
Stay free and clear
Be sure not to put anything on the top of the device, such as purses, blankets, or clothes. This may cause the unit to overheat. Your POC is an electronic device, so if its vent is blocked or covered, it will cause overheating and failure. Keep safe, upright, uncovered, and in place at all times during driving.
4. Bring the DC charging line charge
Fortunately, the charging line of the DC power adapter is a standard accessory of today's concentrator. The battery can be connected to the external battery as the standard power line of most car chargers. For specific information on charging and using the DC power adapter, refer to the user's manual. Can't find your rope? Check other charging cables and accessories.
Important: your vehicle should Also consider discussing any altitude changes, highly polluted areas, extreme temperatures or humidity, or any seasonal allergies that may affect your journey.
If you have any additional needs or problems, it's best to travel with your prescription. started and running before connecting to the DC power socket! Never leave a device plugged into a DC charger in an inoperative vehicle. Doing so will cause the device to continue to power down, resulting in battery death and possible injury to the device.
Available Power & Charging Time
Most concentrators will charge under DC power; however, that can mean charging more slowly than AC power. Estimate and allow for more charging time when using DC power vs. AC power, especially if you are planning on running your unit while charging.
5. Troubleshooting
No sign of charging? If the unit's external power indicator or charging indicator does not light up, disconnect the power cord from the DC power socket, restart the vehicle, and reconnect the cable to the DC power socket.
Please refer to the owner's manual if you need more help with charging and troubleshooting.
Before changing your lifestyle or activity level, be sure to consult your doctor and discuss any activity restrictions you may have or foresee. Also consider discussing any altitude changes, highly polluted areas, extreme temperatures or humidity, or any seasonal allergies that may affect your journey.
If you have any additional needs or problems, it's best to travel with your prescription.
If you're going to a dry climate, you may want to consider a humidification bottle for the continuous flow of oxygen.
Dry and dusty climates may cause the unit to pick up additional debris. Keep the concentrator in the best working condition by keeping the filter clean and clean. Read more about cleaning POC.
If your trip includes air travel, be sure to contact your airlines in advance to meet their requirements for using oxygen concentrators.
