Understanding Oxygen Regulators: A Patient's Guide

Oxygen therapy is used in the treatment of a variety of respiratory ailments. Oxygen is frequently provided to patients in their homes with the help of oxygen cylinders and regulators. These regulators come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but their functions are more or less the same. They serve to step down the pressure of the oxygen to a usable level. By reading the regulator, you can see exactly how much pressure is left within the cylinder.

Things You'll Need

• Oxygen cylinder with regulator attached
• Cylinder wrench

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Instructions

• 1

  Turn the top valve of the cylinder clockwise using a cylinder wrench until you can no longer turn it. Back the valve off 1/4 turn counter-clockwise.

• 2

  Locate the round dial gauge on the side of the regulator. This gauge will generally be 2 to 3 inches in diameter.

• 3

  Identify the needle inside the gauge. It is pointing toward the value of the current pressure inside the tank. The U.S. industry standard is to measure this pressure in "pounds per square inch."