How to Connect Tubing to Oxygen

Many people with different respiratory ailments rely on oxygen tanks to survive. Oxygen systems contain three main parts. Oxygen is stored in a canister; sizes range from large, for home use, to small, for use when traveling. A mask or cannula is a breathing device that goes on the face to help direct oxygen to the nose. A long tube connects the oxygen canister to the mask or cannula.

Things You'll Need

• Large oxygen tank
• Regulator
• Flow meter if not incorporated into the regulator
• Oxygen nipple or bubble humidifier
• Oxygen extension tubing
• Oxygen tubing adaptors
• Nasal cannula

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Instructions

• 1

  Take the plastic plug out of the cylinder valve. If you have an E cylinder, it will be a flat plastic cover; if you have an H cylinder, it will be a round cover. H cylinders are sometimes difficult to open, and you might have to open and close it quickly to blow the cap off.

• 2

  Fit the regulator onto the cylinder valve. E cylinders should have the regulator tightened with a thumb screw, while H cylinders should be tightened with an adjustable wrench. A home health provider should have attached a regulator ahead of time.

• 3

  Open the cylinder valve once the regulator is attached. It is a knob on the H cylinder, while the E cylinder has a special key that fits to the top of tank.

• 4

  Screw the bubble humidifier or oxygen nipple into the flow meter's output port. Some E cylinders will not have a flow dial, and you do not have to worry about this step.

• 5

  Take the oxygen extension or cannula tubing and attach it to the oxygen nipple. Rotate the cylinder valve open in one-quarter rotations. It should be opened to the flow that has been prescribed by your doctor's orders. Both H and E cylinder gauges will read tank pressure, but you should change the tank if it dips into the red zone.