Oxygen cylinders are metal containers that store pressurized oxygen for medical use. They come in different sizes and have customized valves and fittings. Oxygen flowmeters are used to control and measure the flow of oxygen from cylinders to patients. Proper handling and safety procedures must be followed when using, transporting, and storing oxygen cylinders to prevent accidents and ensure cylinders are properly maintained. Key details include performing safety checks, safely operating valves, securing cylinders, avoiding heat/flames, and properly storing and returning empty cylinders.

1. Guidelines for Oxygen
Cylinders
22 Nov-2022

2. Learning Objectives
By the end of this presentation, the participant will be able
to:
• Understand the uses of oxygen cylinder and flowmeter
• Describe major parts of an oxygen cylinder and flowmeter
• Safely handle the oxygen cylinder during daily usage
• Conduct PPM of the oxygen cylinder

3. INTRODUCTION
Oxygen Cylinder set is medical equipment used for storing
pressurized Oxygen to be used by patients who are in need of
it.
Oxygen cylinders are cylindrically shaped metal (steel or
bauxite) containers used to store oxygen compressed at very
high pressures.
Cylinders usually come in different sizes with different storage
capacity.
Oxygen cylinders for medical use are usually black colored with
a white top; in some cases, small cylinders may be colored
entirely black.
Cylinders are fitted with customized valves (either bullnose or
pin-index type) with valve guards, which are opened with valve
keys.

4. Oxygen cylinder

5. Cylinders valves

6. Cylinder size and color coding
• For patient safety and from a
practical point of view, different
medical gas cylinders types have
various distinguishing features,
such as their size and color.
• Cylinders are manufactured in
different sizes depending on the
gas they contain.
• These cylinder sizes are labelled
from A to J. however, sizes A and
H are not used for medical gases.
• Those attached to the anaesthetic
machine are usually size E, while
size J cylinders are commonly
used for cylinder manifold.

7. Cylinder size

8. Color coding

9. Oxygen cylinder spanner and key
• Oxygen cylinders need a
spanner and key to
open/close and connect to the
flow meter for delivery to the
patient.

10. Oxygen cylinder cart with/without stand
• Are used to transport oxygen
cylinder from one point to the
other. The cylinder should be
chained while on the carrier to
avoid accidental fall.

11. Cylinder Oxygen flow meter
A flowmeter is an instrument used to measure the flow
rate of a liquid or a gas. In healthcare facilities, gas
flowmeters are used to deliver oxygen at a controlled rate
either directly to patients or through medical devices.
Oxygen flowmeters are used on oxygen tanks and
oxygen concentrators to measure the amount of oxygen
reaching the patient or user.
Sometimes bottles are fitted to humidify the oxygen by
bubbling it through water.

12. Oxygen flow meter parts
• The set has two main parts namely
1. Head (Manometer) and 2. Body
(steel cylinder).
• The Head (Manometer) Consists
of: Flow meter with bobbin,
pressure gauge, connecting nut,
oxygen Inlet, regulator, cylinder
valve and oxygen Outlet.
Flowmeter parts
 1 Flow meter,
 2 Pressure gauge,
 3 Connector,
 4 Out let,
 5 Inlet,
 6 Humidifier bottle,
 7 Bubbling

13. Initial Safety checks for oxygen cylinder
Before handling cylinders ensure your hands are clean
 If alcohol based gels or liquids have recently been used
ensure it has totally evaporated before oxygen use.
If moisturisers or sun cream have been used ensure
hands are dry before oxygen use.
When selecting a cylinder for use ensure it is clean free
from any damage, free from oil or grease.

14. Prepare cylinder
• Ensure you have the correct medical gas and that it is within its’ expiry date.
(Found on batch label of the cylinder)
• Check the cylinder contents gauge on the cylinder valve to ensure that there
is
• Sufficient gas contents in the cylinder
• Remove the tamper evident seal and cover fitted over the valve outlets
• Ensure the flow selector is set to zero before using the (black) hand wheel to
open the cylinder valve
• Open the cylinder valve slowly (turn anti clockwise until it stops) and check
for any leak.
• Ensure the outlet (fir tree connector) is free of obstruction. If dirt or other
obstruction is seen; briefly turn the flow dial to maximum to clear it
• Ensure that the correct equipment is selected for connection to the cylinder
• Connect tubing to the fir tree connector and select appropriate flow rate

15. Cylinder leaks
Check the connection for leaks using the
following procedure:
should leaks occur this will usually be evident by a
hissing noise
close valve, remove connection, check and refit
never use excessive force when connecting equipment to
cylinders
If leak persists, label cylinder and return to BOC.

16. Use of Cylinders
• When compressed medical oxygen cylinders are in use, ensure that
they are:
 only used for medicinal purposes
 used only be personnel trained in their use and aware of the potential
dangers
 turned off, when not in use, using only moderate force to close the valve
 only moved with the appropriate size of handling device
 handled with care and not knocked violently or allowed to fall
 firmly secured to a suitable cylinder support when in use
 not allowed to have any markings, labels or batch labels obscured or
removed
 Do not used in the near of persons smoking or naked lights.
 Always check service/expirer dates before use.
 When administering oxygen therapy, ensure all details of patient are written
in the Patient Report Form along with time the oxygen was administered for.

17. After Use
If any contact with salt water has occurred cylinder
should be rinsed in fresh water. Do not use any cleaning
materials that may contain chlorine or ammonium as they
may cause damage to the cylinder package.
 When the compressed medical oxygen cylinder is empty
ensure that the:
cylinder valve is closed using moderate force only and
the pressure in the
Regulator or tailpipe released
Valve outlet cap, where fitted, is replaced
Empty cylinders are immediately returned to the empty
cylinder store (dry place/room) for return to BOC Service.

18. Label statements
Contact with combustible material my cause fire.
No smoking or naked flames near medical
oxygen cylinders.
Use no oil or grease.
Keep away from extremes of heat and
combustible material.
Store cylinders under cover in a clean, dry and
well ventilated area.

19. Storage of cylinders
 Oxygen is a non-flammable gas, but strongly supports combustion.
 Do not store or use cylinders near naked flames, sources of ignition or
combustible materials.
 Ensure the oxygen cylinders are stored in a safe and secure area where they
cannot fall over and cause injury. Commonly this is within a secure cage or
chained to the wall.
 Clearly identify the storage areas with appropriate signage.
 Ensure separation of full and empty cylinders.
 Store medical gas cylinders separately from industrial and other non medical
cylinders, fuel, oil, grease, alcohol based hand cleaner etc. in a well-
ventilated area that is clean and dry, preferably inside.
 Medical gas cylinders should not be stored in the same area that is being
used to dry equipment
 Smoking should not be permitted in the vicinity where cylinders are used or
stored.

20. Accidental release measures
If a large volume of medical oxygen is released, for
example if the cylinder is damaged. It may begin moving at
high speed in erratic directions. If safe to do so, you should:
 Close the cylinder valve
Where possible, isolate all sources of ignition
If release continues, evacuate the area and ensure that the affected area is
Adequately ventilated before re-entry.

21. Transport of cylinders
When medical oxygen cylinders are required to be
transported, ensure that the cylinders are:
 located in a compartment separated from the driver
 adequately restrained
 Check for leaking, and have their valves closed.
 The vehicle must be adequately ventilated

22. Cylinder markings and engravings
• Several important distinguishing marks are engraved by the
manufacturers on the exterior of all medical cylinders. These include:
• Test pressure: is employed to test the integrity of the cylinder and its
ability to withstand extremely high pressures – the cylinder is
subjected to pressures of approximately 22000 KPa.
• Dates of tests performed: every five years, cylinders in use are
checked and tested by manufacturer.
• Chemical formula of cylinder contents: in addition to colour coding
the cylinders- the chemical formula confirms the contents of the
cylinder.
• Tare weight: this is the weight of cylinder when empty.

23. Cylinder storage and maintenance
• Because of the inherit dangers
associated with working in the vicinity of
pressurized cylinders, further safety
procedures must be rigorously adhered
to for the maintenance and storage of
gas cylinders.
• Full cylinders should be separated from
empty ones to avoid accidents. This is
to avoid the risk of disrupting patient
gas supply by accidentally connecting
an empty cylinder.
• Size F,G and J cylinders should be
stored upright to avoid damage to the
valves.
• Size C,D and E cylinders can be stored
horizontally on shelves made of a
material that does not damage the
surface of the cylinders, usually tember.

24. Oxygen cylinder duration
• It is important to understand duration of your oxygen cylinder last, the
following factor should be considered
1) Cylinder size
2) Cylinder pressure
3) Gas flow
4) Cylinder factor
• The formula for calculating oxygen cylinder duration is
• Cylinder factor is always constant depend on cylinder size
 D is 0.16
 E is 0.28
 G is 2.41
 H is 3.14

25. Oxygen cylinder duration cont…
• Example
• We have a cylinder of E type with Pressure 140bar. The
doctor plan to deliver oxygen to the patient with flow rate
of 2L/min.How long does it last.
Solution
pressure= 2200psi
Factor of E type cylinder = 0.28
Gas flow rate = 2L/min
Answer is 280min equal to 4.5hrs
So Oxygen in the cylinder will last for 4.5hrs.

27. THANK YOU !