Karnataka Government through circular issued on 24.04.2021 has Guidelines for Rational Use of Oxygen for Management of Covid-19 and safe storage, Transportation and Handling of Liquid Oxygen for Medical Use. The central guidelines has previously directed to form oxygen Monitoring Committee in every hospital which may consist of Additional Medical Superintendent, Head of Anesthesia, Head of Respiratory Medicine (Head of Internal Medicine in case Respiratory Medicine department does not exist) and Nursing Superintendent. Following guidelines are issued for storage and handling:
Storage:
- Store and use Liquid containers with adequate ventilation. Do not store containers in a confined area or in area unprotected from the extremes of weather.
- Oxygen must be separated from flammables and combustibles by a 20 feet or a half-hour fire wall, Post “No Smoking” and “No Open Flames” signs.
- . Liquid containers should not be left open to the atmosphere for extended periods.
Handling:
- When moving, never tip, slide or roll containers on their side, Use a suitable hand truck for moving smaller containers. Move larger containers by pushing, not pulling.
- Avoid mechanical and thermal shock.
- Never allow any unprotected part of the body to come in contact with uninsulated pipes or equipment containing cryogenic product.
