Oxygen Provider Question

[cuester]

I was wondering if the DAN O2 providers course is recognized as an official certification or if you can only get O2 fills from a dive shop with that class. If you had a situation where you suspect a lung injury but it occured at a non diving event would you administer oxygen? I was working at a camp this past summer and we had a suspected lung injury (suspected broken ribs, possib punctured lung) and were 20 mins from EMS. They arrived and immediately administered oxygen, but would you say it is ok to administer O2 while they are on route for this type of situation?

 

[muddiver]

DAN has an agreement with the Airgas corporation where you can go in with your O2 provider card and get your emergency O2 cylinder filled at any Airgas dealer. Airgas will be listed under welding supplies in the phone book or online.

It is common practice to administer oxygen to anyone who has severe injuries. Especially if it envolves the chest, head or they are unconscious. It is really considered an EMT or paramedic skill and medicine. But, if you have the training than it is always a good idea to add oxygen. I wouldn't run out and buy a kit just to carry around though. Most employers provide basic oxygen kits at most facilities. I am really supprised that the camp did not have a kit available.

Oops. I got the company wrong, it's Praxair not Airgas.

 

[cuester]

Does they operate in Canada as well? I am in the maritimes.

 

[MurkyRockDiver]

Your O2 cert is for diving injuries only, because of the nature of dive injuries O2 is a good first aid if the ABC's are taken care of. With non diving injuries there are allot of other considerations that your Dan O2 course just does not prepare you for. IMO

 

[PfcAJ]

Really, if you were to administer oxygen, its not going to hurt. However, I suggest taking a first responder course since you seem to find yourself in situations that might require a little more knowledge.

Best,
AJ

 

[stevewirl]

o2 for long periods of time can lead to pulmunary toxicty . this is why o2 breaks are given to all on o2 .

there is a rear ailment "name escapes me at present'"that has an adverse reaction which leads the victim/casualty worstening . diver are required to do a medical which this ailment can be discovered .

 

[DaFireMedic]

You should take a first responder course, as was mentioned, but oxygen really is the safest "drug" that we carry on our units, and there are very few conditions that it may worsen. (underwater is obviously another story). In the field, we won't withold it from anyone who needs it . There are currently no field contraindications to supplemental oxygen in the state of California, and I doubt there are in other states either (keep in mind that "field contraindications" means short term administration, such as the 20 minutes you described). If you have the one tank (even two) of oxygen in a DAN kit, you will not be able to administer oxygen long enough to reach toxic levels on land. But even as a paramedic, I am not allowed to practice as one off duty and oxygen falls under the drug protocols.

I would be careful about administering oxygen outside of your "protocol" (in other words, what your DAN certification allows), but this where the dilemma lies. Sometimes the life safety issue may outweigh the potential trouble someone may cause you later for it. If my dad was at my house and started having chest pains, you bet I would get my O2 kit and give him oxygen until EMS arrived, and honestly I probably would have done the same in your situation. I realize that when you are dealing with strangers, concerns about someone coming back with legal issues later on are greater, so you have to make your own decision.

With a dive injury, it's obvious, give the oxygen as needed.

 

[gsmiller]

there is a rear ailment "name escapes me at present'"that has an adverse reaction which leads the victim/casualty worstening . diver are required to do a medical which this ailment can be discovered .

High-flow oxygen on COPD patients can lead to a deteriation which may include patient stops breathing (worst case). In my opinion, you won't cause any (long term) harm by putting them on O2 but you might have to bag the patient. As firemedic said, you can't really do any harm in short term administration, and we don't withhold it in the field either (Virginia).

About the legality's: Does your state have a "Good Samaritan" act?

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[muddiver]

o2 for long periods of time can lead to pulmunary toxicty . this is why o2 breaks are given to all on o2 .

there is a rear ailment "name escapes me at present'"that has an adverse reaction which leads the victim/casualty worstening . diver are required to do a medical which this ailment can be discovered .

The only rear ailment I am aware of is hemroird, I've never heard of anyone dying from that.

 

[muddiver]

About the legality's: Does your state have a "Good Samaritan" act?

Yes, California has a Good Samaritain" act. It covers those of use with First Aid, Advanced First Aid and Emergency Response (First Responder) training. And if there was an O2 kit available I can administer it in an emergency.

As an EMT or Paramagic it is another story because one is licensed by the county one works in to provide emergency medicine for pay (i.e. professionally). Licensed practioners in California fall under a different set of rules and can not provide certain levels of emergency medicine when off duty.