How to Use an Oxygen Mask

Administering oxygen is a fairly straightforward task. It involves regulating the flow of oxygen from a canister through tubing to a few types of devices, most often an oxygen mask that fits over the nose and mouth or a nasal cannula that pinches to the nostrils. Either delivery method is easy to perform on another person, or to yourself.

Instructions

• 1

  Inspect your oxygen canister for physical damage.

• 2

  Connect one end of your oxygen tubing to the flow nozzle on the canister regulator, the other to your nasal cannula or oxygen mask intake nozzle.

• 3

  Turn the regulator lever until the gauge indicates the flow recommended by your physician; generally, 1 to 6 liters per minute for a nasal cannula and from 10 to 15 lpm for a mask.

• 4

  Listen for oxygen flow where it escapes at the mask.

• 5

  Pinch the nasal cannula onto the nostrils of the patient, or hold the oxygen mask over the nose and mouth.

• 6

  Feed the ends of the nasal cannula over the patient's ears to hold it in place, or pull the oxygen mask's head band over the patient's head.

• 7

  Adjust the flow of oxygen with the regulator knob.