AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

 

February 8, 2002

Dear Boarding Home Provider:

On December 17, 2001, a provider letter was sent to you by the department regarding Oxygen Use and Smoking Hazards (AASA: BH #2001-027).

In that letter, we referred to information provided by the State Fire Marshals office in three bold typeface bullets. Bullet #3 stated:

At minimum, if residents who use oxygen wish to smoke, the oxygen supply must be turned off and the nasal cannula removed from the residents face while smoking.This applies to all types of oxygen supply or container.

A provider recently informed us of an incident where a resident had followed the at minimum requirements and still sustained severe burns. The oxygen supply had been turned off, and the nasal cannula removed from the face and placed in the lap. Residual oxygen in the tubing was ignited by falling ashes and resulted in resident burns.

This incident demonstrates that there is still the potential for burns to a residents body and clothing unlessthe tubing is removed from the residents body and placed at a safe distance while the resident is smoking. Please bring this information to the attention of your staff in order to make sure your home(s) fulfills its responsibility of ensuring resident safety around the issue of smoking and oxygen use.

If you have any questions please contact your local Residential Care Services (RCS) Field Manager.

Sincerely,

Patricia K. Lashway, Director
Residential Care Services

cc: RCS Regional Administrators