Flow rates, tubing safety, travel rules, and the difference between a concentrator and a tank.
Concentrator vs. tank — which when?
Concentrators pull oxygen from room air and never need refilling, so they're the daily-use default. Tanks are still useful as a backup for power outages and for brief outings when battery life is tight.
Flow rates aren't a dial-it-yourself setting
Your prescription specifies a flow rate (often 2 LPM continuous). Don't adjust it based on how you feel — too high can suppress your drive to breathe, too low won't reach therapeutic saturation.
Tubing safety in plain terms
No open flames within 6 feet. No smoking in the home — full stop. Keep tubing run flat against walls so it doesn't become a trip hazard for you or visitors.
Key takeaways
- •Concentrator daily, tank for backup.
- •Don't change flow rate without your physician.
- •Six feet from any flame, always.
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