OBJECTIVE To compare oxygen supply options for health facilities in the Gambia and develop a decision-making algorithm for choosing oxygen delivery systems in Africa and the rest of the developing world. METHODS Oxygen cylinders and concentrators were compared in terms of functionality and cost. Interviews with key informants using locally developed and adapted WHO instruments, operational as...

Oxygen is crucial to maintain and save human life. Other than medical purposes it is widely used for manufacture of mineral water, fabrication works and other industrial activities. If adequate precautionary measures are not adopted while handling, storage or transport of oxygen cylinder or container, accidental blast may claim human life and other damage as well. The case involving three victi...

The prescription of home oxygen cylinders is substantial. This study aimed to establish patient's current use of short burst oxygen therapy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and to examine potential cost savings if cylinder use had been replaced by a concentrator. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was completed by 100 patients currently receiving short burst oxygen therapy...

The most frequent and expensive cause category of compensable loss is manual material handling (MMH). Casting workers who handle oxygen (O2) cylinders manually are at risk for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). The aim of this study was to assess manual handling of O2 cylinders by casting workers and to implement ergonomic intervention to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorder...

In the last two decennia the stationary oxygen concentrator has been the most cost effective oxygen source for most patients using long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT). In most countries the oxygen concentrator has, therefore, largely replaced stationary oxygen cylinders with a volume of 10 litres or more. The oxygen concentrator is very convenient and safe for home use. However, for patients needin...

The risks of ferromagnetic compressed gas cylinders becoming projectiles in an MR environment are well known (12). The recent death of a child from such an incident reinforces the potential for disaster (3).